Ireland to become one of the first countries to clamp down on AI deepfakes
Ireland is set to follow Denmark in becoming one of the first countries to clamp down on the creation and dissemination of AI-generated deepfakes, Extra.ie has learned.
It comes after the Danish government announced this week plans to change copyright laws to grant people ownership of their voice, body, and facial features.
Sources this weekend said Culture Minister Patrick O'Donovan has requested a meeting with his Danish counterpart, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, to discuss ways to strengthen protection against digital imitations of people's identities. Patrick O'Donovan. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
The Government is increasingly concerned about the use of AI-generated deepfakes in criminal activity.
Irish writers have also lobbied the Coalition amid criticism of tech giant Meta, which has harvested or 'scraped' the written works of high-profile authors including Sally Rooney, John Banville and President Michael D Higgins.
A Government source confirmed Minister O'Donovan will meet with Mr Engel-Schmidt in the coming weeks. Minister for Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt. Pic: Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
They told Extra.ie: 'The Minister has reached out to his Danish colleague, and he will be meeting him shortly to see what can be done.
'It sounds quite interesting what Denmark is doing. They [the Danish government] are figuring out ways to deal with this in a way that is effective.'
The source said discussion of what new laws can be introduced here to combat deepfake scammers will be at the top of the agenda. Deepfakes. Pic: Shutterstock
The new Danish legislation comes amid some growing concerns across Europe about rapidly developing AI technology that has made it easier than ever to create a convincing fake image, video or sound to mimic the voice or features of another person.
Once approved, the changes to Danish copyright law will give individuals the right to demand that online platforms remove such content if it is shared without consent.
The legislation will also cover 'realistic, digitally generated imitations' of an artist's performance without consent. Violation of the proposed rules could result in compensation for performers who are affected.
The Danish government said the new rules would not affect parodies and satire.
Asked if they supported the introduction of similar legislation and penalties here, a spokesman for Ireland's media and online safety regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, said: 'The questions are quite technical… I will have a response on Monday [tomorrow] definitely.'
While Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC), which is responsible for policing tech giants whose European headquarters are based in Dublin, also did not respond to Extra.ie queries asking if similar laws should be introduced in Ireland.
A spokesman would only say: 'Individuals can complain to the Data Protection Commissioner where they believe their personal data has been breached in some manner.
'The Data Protection Commission receives complaints from individuals in relation to the processing of their personal data.'
The DPC can also order the removal of online images of people if they have been posted without their consent. It can fine tech companies up to 4% of their global turnover if they refuse to comply with its orders.
However, the DPC has faced criticism at home and abroad for its perceived failure to enforce laws to protect individuals' data rights from big tech companies.
In January, the European Court of Justice ordered the DPC to pay the legal costs of a doomed case that it took against the European Data Protection Board.
This came after the EU data watchdog criticised a DPC ruling against people who made complaints against Meta and its popular message-sharing platform WhatsApp.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
18 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: In the era of AI, education is at a premium
While the rush by companies to crowbar artificial intelligence into every product imaginable continues — even if it's not actually artificial intelligence and just tools that are good at predicting the answer you're looking for — the technology is already showing detrimental effects on the human mind. A study published this month by researchers at MIT, with an admittedly very small sample size, suggests that the use of ChatGPT and similar tools results in reduced cognition, which is essential for independent critical thinking: 'Over four months, LLM [large language model] users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioural levels. These results raise concerns about the long-term educational implications of LLM reliance and underscore the need for deeper inquiry into AI's role in learning. The rush from AI opponents online was to say something like 'AI makes you stupid', but that is both inaccurate and unfair. Still, the technology isn't going away any time soon, and quite apart from the environmental and, apparently, mental damage we had a warning just this past week that AI could come to the detriment of Irish jobs. Members of the AI Advisory Council — made up of 15 independent experts who advise the Government on Ireland's AI strategy — appeared at an Oireachtas committee to say that they predict software engineers, junior lawyers, and customer service jobs to be the first to take the hit. They note that entry-level programming jobs are already being replaced by AI, as the industry behind the technology applies it to itself first. But whether the technology ends up augmenting or replacing the humans in the loop remains to be seen, largely because most large-scale experiments seem to be giving mixed results at best. Tesla finally launched its seemingly eternally promised autonomous driving taxis in Texas (with a person sitting in the front seat by the way, even if not driving), only for them to make a plethora of basic driving errors. While the shareholders seem happy, especially after the first quarter's debacle on the back of Elon Musk's dalliance with government and despite slumping Tesla car sales generally, whether this will prove a triumph in the long road — pun very much intended — remains to be seen. That doesn't mean that the tech giants aren't prepared to gamble big on automation or artificial intelligence. Last week, Amazon, which employs some 6,500 people here in Ireland and 1.5m worldwide, told staff that AI would probably mean a reduction in the total number of employees, possibly replacing some of its current corporate staff. Microsoft is preparing to lay off another 6,000 people while it simultaneously increases spending on AI. The cuts are across sales and other teams, and the talk is of 'trimming' the workforce and 'aligning it' with company strategy (it still has 2.28m other employees). Microsoft should be warned, though, about expecting an AI solution to bridge any workforce gap: Payments platform Klarna laid off 700 people in 2022 only to have to scramble to rehire many when its AI tool wasn't up to the task of customer service. The head of the AI company Anthropic has claimed that half of all entry-level jobs could be replaced by artificial intelligence — but then, he would say that, wouldn't he? That said, the IMF has previously noted that as much as 60% of jobs in advanced economies are exposed to AI, and not all for the better. Good news, then, that in recent weeks University College Cork has risen in the international university rankings, holding a space in the top 1% globally. It shows that quality education is still in demand, and with it the training in critical thinking and reasoning that will stand to the whole of society in the long run. There are ways that AI tools and apps can be beneficial, but right now the biggest return on investment for the technology has been wanton devastation of climate and copyright. Employment equality With the last school now shut for the summer, we face into a time that prior to covid would have been increasingly fraught for working parents — not just keeping their children entertained, but physically kept hale and hearty while they are off working in an office. The rise of hybrid, flexible, and remote working options has, if not put paid to that, at least made it more easy to navigate for some, though not all. And it must be acknowledged that a great many jobs have never been able to allow for remote or hybrid options, such as retail or manufacturing. Still, for parents of young and not so young children, being able to be physically present in their youngsters' lives represents time reclaimed, with all the emotional and relationship development benefits that brings. Doubly so for the parents or carers of children with disabilities, for whom summer camps and other such activities might be a pipe dream. One might expect that remote and hybrid working, meanwhile, would have levelled the playing field for our disabled citizens. And, while there is evidence generally that more people with disabilities have been able to access employment in the Western world, Ireland is lagging behind. Last week's Feelgood pages noted that Ireland's disability employment rate of 32.6% is not only way below the EU average of 51.3%, but is the absolute bottom of the EU table. More than 1.1m people in this republic have at least one long-lasting condition according to census figures, with some 350,000 experiencing difficulty taking part in activities, and just over 300,000 experiencing a difficulty working at a job or attending school or college. Not all disabilities are visible. Disabled workers find a plethora of obstacles in their way, from losing their social protection payments to the interview and testing process, to not even being part of the conversation because they are not targeted for recruitment. Many companies offer adaptations to work environments, and there are other supports available to firms. The American civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer once said: 'Nobody is free until everybody is free.' Isn't it time we did a better job of ensuring that our citizens who face obstacles are given the same freedom as everybody else?
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Taoiseach to begin Japan trip focused on bilateral links
Updated / Monday, 30 Jun 2025 00:01 Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to begin a four-day tour across three cities in Japan, which will focus on bilateral relationships, trade and cultural links. It is the latest in a series of visits by members of the Cabinet to the country following a recent visit by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke. In Tokyo, the first city on his visit, the Taoiseach will meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan is Ireland's second largest trading partner in the region, with total trade between the two countries amounting to more than €21 billion. Speaking ahead of his visit, the Taoiseach said: "In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, Japan is an important strategic partner for Ireland on the global stage." "Ireland and Japan are very like-minded on the major issues facing the world and I look forward to exchanging views with Prime Minister Ishiba and discussing how to strengthen the ties between our two countries." He will also officially open Ireland House Tokyo - the new home of the Irish Embassy, and trade and investment agencies. Mr Martin will then travel to Osaka, where he will attend Expo 2025. The Government hopes the event, with its projected 28 milllion visitors, will raise Ireland's profile in Japan. On the final day of his visit, Mr Martin will travel to Hiroshima, where he will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph to mark 80 years since the atomic bombing. Mr Martin said he was honoured to visit Hiroshima "to remember all those who died as a result of the atomic bombing 80 years ago". "The memorial at Hiroshima is a stark reminder to us all of the devastation wrought by nuclear war and the importance of peace and stability across the world," he said.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Wexford's Johnstown Castle to host first ever Garden Fair
The Walled Garden at Johnstown Castle in Wexford. Photo by Colin Shanahan. Well on Sunday, July 13, the beauty spot will host its very first Garden Fair, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. showcasing the beauty of the horticulture in one of Ireland's most scenic and historic locations. The Garden Fair promises to be a celebration of nature, plants, and the people who bring them to life. Set in the picturesque Walled Garden of Johnstown Castle, this inaugural event will feature some of Ireland's finest plant nurseries, expert guest speakers, and a delightful range of food offerings. Attendees will be able to explore curated plant stalls, enjoy garden-themed art, and listen to inspiring talks from leading horticultural experts. Among the highlights are top plant nurseries offering everything from rare perennials to native Irish plants. Participating nurseries include Coldblow Nursery, Camolin Potting Shed, Kildalton College Nursery, Kilmurry Nursery, Leaf and Petal, Railstown Plants, Rare Plants Ireland, Shady Plants Nursery, and Individual Plant Nursery, as well as Johnstown Castle's selection of home-grown plants. In addition to the plant stalls, visitors can discover unique items from talented garden-focused creators and artists, such as botanical artist Lynn Stringer and gardenalia specialist Dee Brophy. There will also be plenty of opportunities to sit back and relax, enjoying delicious food from Eoghan's Eats food truck, The Crazy Vegetable food truck and sweet treats from The Coffee Pot, the estate's new coffee dock. Visitors will also be treated to a series of talks and presentations from leading experts in horticulture such as Geoff Stebbings, Michael White and Mary Reynolds, who will provide tips on gardening, sustainable practices and more, followed by a Q&A panel. Entry is free for Irish Heritage Trust members with an event ticket, which will be available at reception on the day, and non-members can book online or purchase at reception for €10.50. Access to the walled garden on the day will require an event ticket.
