Governments in the United Kingdom and Ireland are taking legislative action to address the misuse of artificial intelligence in creating non-consensual images and voice recordings. The UK government is enforcing a law this week that makes it a criminal offense to create or request non-consensual intimate images. This move specifically targets tools like the Grok AI chatbot on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the government plans to criminalize the supply of tools designed for nudification. The UK regulator, Ofcom, has launched an investigation into X. The platform faces potential fines or a block on its services if it fails to comply with safety standards. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that companies profiting from harm lose the right to self-regulation.
New legal frameworks for identity protection
In Ireland, lawmakers are calling to fast-track the Protection of Voice and Image Bill. This legislation aims to create a standalone criminal offense for exploiting a person’s likeness without consent. Malcolm Byrne, the TD who introduced the Bill, argues that deliberate misuse of identity for malign purposes requires swift criminalization.
Ireland’s child protection rapporteur, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, noted that AI-generated abuse images cause harm equivalent to authentic ones. She highlighted that current laws often focus on individual users rather than the platforms providing the technology.
Both nations are framing these measures as a response to gender-based violence and a necessity for product safety.
Sources: The Irish Times, BBC
