Government must decide ‘collectively’ about its use of X – minister

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has said the Government would have to make a “decision collectively” about its use of the social media site X.

Peter Burke was responding to recent reports that the platform’s AI function, Grok, can be used to create fake sexualised images of people, including children.

Asked if the Government should continue its presence on X in light of these reports, Mr Burke said: “Obviously the Government would have to take this decision collectively in relation to any platform that it’s on.”

Speaking to reporters at the announcement of his department’s Sectoral Capital Plan 2026–2030, he said he was “hugely concerned” about the reported generation of sexual abuse imagery by Grok and said “the Government has to be very firm on this”.

Mr Burke added: “We need to ensure that the current legislative framework is working as prescribed.”

The Minister of State with special responsibility for Artificial Intelligence, Niamh Smyth, was due to attend the event but did not appear.

Mr Burke said Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiun na Meán, is investigating the matter along with its EU counterparts.

But when asked if he personally would stop using the platform, the minister said: “Investigations have to run their course first.”

On Tuesday, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, posting on X, said “there needs to be serious scrutiny of any public body that continues to maintain a presence on a platform that has shown such a reckless and disturbing disregard for child safety”.

He added: “This will be my final post on this platform under its current ownership.

“I will not lend my voice to a company that has chosen profit and ideology over the basic safety of children.”

On Tuesday, the Taoiseach said that such use of AI was “unacceptable” and possibly illegal.

However, since then, Micheál Martin’s account on X has posted repeatedly, sharing highlights of his visit to China.