Ireland’s online watchdog is warning of the dangers of artificial intelligence in creating disinformation and targeting children.
AI-run bots are “worryingly being offered as a friend on social media” to children, Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán – Ireland’s media regulator – says.
The commissioner has “growing concerns in relation to AI-generated content, particularly the manipulation of imagery through deep fakes, and AI-generated child sex abuse material”.
“AI is an increasing feature of children’s lives,” Ms Hodnett says, but warns that it “was not designed for children nor does it use a safety by design approach”.
“If AI is to work for children, children need to be front and central in its design”, she will tell the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children this afternoon.
“It is important to note that the era of self-regulation is over,” her opening statement reads.
“Our Online Safety Framework makes platforms accountable for how they protect users, especially children,” Ms Hodnett notes.
“AI can be a useful tool for content moderation to improve online safety. AI can recognise and
remove illegal or harmful content. It can also limit the exposure for human content moderators.
“AI-driven recommender systems can present risks including the amplification of harmful
content, the recommendation of age-inappropriate content” and “disinformation”, she believes.
As the national media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán is “responsible for regulating services which have their EU headquarters in Ireland”, while “the European Commission also has a role for the largest platforms”.
“Co-operating with our counterparts across Europe, and indeed globally, is important,” Ms Hodnett says.
