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The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Disturbing AI-generated child sex abuse material ‘increasing in prevalence' as new media watchdog makes protection vow
IRELAND'S new media watchdog has warned about the rise of AI-generated child sex abuse images online. Coimisiun na Mean today launched its first three-year strategy as they vowed to protect children online and clamp down on disinformation. Advertisement The new State body will also roll out a media campaign to advise the public how to identify and report The Coimisiun was set up by the last The watchdog has this week published its first long-term plan as they look to make both online and broadcast media a safer place for children. Speaking at the launch of the plan today, Commissioner Niamh Hodnett issued a stark warning about an increase in child sex abuse images – in particular images created with Advertisement Read more on AI She said: 'There are two types we are concerned about, one is self-generated by 'The other we are concerned about is AI-generated child sex abuse material which has been made by artificial intelligence. 'Both are increasing in prevalence and we are very concerned about that.' Coimisiun na Mean has identified child protection as one of the key areas in their first three-year plan. Advertisement Most read in News Tech Live Blog In a section laying out how they will do this, the Commission say they will take on They will also run a campaign advising the public on how to make a complaint about illegal or harmful content they see online. Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes On disinformation, the Commission will team up with other EU regulators and State bodies, such as Executive Chair of Coimisiun na Mean, Jeremy Godfrey, said protecting young people and clamping down on disinformation were key objectives. Advertisement He said: 'Our six outcomes are ambitious and reflect our commitment to the regulation, support, and development of a media landscape that underpins fundamental rights and fosters an open, democratic and pluralistic society. 'As Ireland's media landscape evolves, we feel a unique responsibility to ensure that we shape the changing media environment to better serve Irish audiences, to uphold fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and to protect people, especially children, from harm.'' The State body has identified six key areas it wants to focus on; children, democracy, trust, Irish culture, diversity and public safety. The Commission will promote the creation of Irish educational and cultural material specifically designed for children. Advertisement The Commission has also started preparing for the presidential election later this year where they will focus on protecting democracy and combatting disinformation in the campaign. 1 Ireland new media watchdog has warned about the rise of AI-generated child sex abuse images online
Belfast Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Child protection online and election integrity among media regulator priorities
Coimisiun na Mean published a three-year strategy and a 2025 work programme on Thursday, listing priority projects on online safety as well as media sector development and regulation. The coimisiun's executive chairman Jeremy Godfrey said: 'We are confident that this strategy will help us to create a media landscape that benefits all of society.' He added: 'As Ireland's media landscape evolves, we feel a unique responsibility to ensure that we shape the changing media environment to better serve Irish audiences, to uphold fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and to protect people, especially children, from harm.' Among the priority projects are the development of a pilot programme for children at imminent risk of harm from online content, the development of an election integrity strategy across all media sources, and the creation of educational materials relating to online hate. The coimisiun will also prepare a new broadcasting services strategy and a revised media plurality policy, and continue the rollout of the Sound and Vision and journalism funding schemes, the latter of which includes local democracy and court reporting grants. Sound and Vision will support and promote the availability of new, 'culturally significant' audio and audiovisual content for Irish audiences, including in the Irish language, for transmission across national, regional, local and community broadcasting services. It will also open public consultation when developing the next iteration of the scheme and any other new funding initiatives. Subject to ministerial approval, it is aiming to develop digital transformation and news reporting and current affairs funding schemes. The 2025 work plan also says it will develop pilot gender, equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI) standards for specified funding schemes. It said it will ensure that voices from diverse backgrounds, including women and minority groups, are represented and supported in the industry. In addition, the work plan includes a new five-year review and three-year look ahead for public service broadcasters RTE and TG4, on top of annual reviews of performance and public funding. The coimisiun will also consider the feasibility of a youth-focused Irish language radio station.
BreakingNews.ie
24-04-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Child protection online and election integrity among media regulator priorities
An election integrity strategy and protections for children at risk of online harm are two priorities under a work plan for the media regulator. Coimisiún na Meán published a three-year strategy and a 2025 work programme on Thursday, listing priority projects on online safety as well as media sector development and regulation. Advertisement The coimisiún's executive chairman Jeremy Godfrey said: 'We are confident that this strategy will help us to create a media landscape that benefits all of society.' He added: 'As Ireland's media landscape evolves, we feel a unique responsibility to ensure that we shape the changing media environment to better serve Irish audiences, to uphold fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and to protect people, especially children, from harm.' Among the priority projects are the development of a pilot programme for children at imminent risk of harm from online content, the development of an election integrity strategy across all media sources, and the creation of educational materials relating to online hate. The coimisiún will also prepare a new broadcasting services strategy and a revised media plurality policy, and continue the rollout of the Sound and Vision and journalism funding schemes, the latter of which includes local democracy and court reporting grants. Advertisement Sound and Vision will support and promote the availability of new, 'culturally significant' audio and audiovisual content for Irish audiences, including in the Irish language, for transmission across national, regional, local and community broadcasting services. It will also open public consultation when developing the next iteration of the scheme and any other new funding initiatives. Subject to ministerial approval, it is aiming to develop digital transformation and news reporting and current affairs funding schemes. The 2025 work plan also says it will develop pilot gender, equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI) standards for specified funding schemes. Advertisement It said it will ensure that voices from diverse backgrounds, including women and minority groups, are represented and supported in the industry. In addition, the work plan includes a new five-year review and three-year look ahead for public service broadcasters RTÉ and TG4, on top of annual reviews of performance and public funding. The coimisiún will also consider the feasibility of a youth-focused Irish language radio station.
RTÉ News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Media regulator outlines plans for online safety, elections
Protecting children online and tackling disinformation are among the priorities outlined in new plans published by Coimisiún na Meán. In its programme of work for 2025, the media regulator said it will pilot a programme to provide support for children at imminent risk of harm from online content, as a precursor to consideration of a wider individual complaints mechanism. The commission has also published a three-year strategy statement. The plans pledge to reduce the impact of disinformation and tackle online hate. "We will develop and publish guidance on identifying and reporting illegal hate speech online," the 2025 programme of work states. "We will develop and roll out educational materials relating to online hate," it adds. Coimisiún na Meán said it is preparing for this year's presidential election, including research and the ongoing development of resources and tools. It plans to share the results of research it has conducted into candidates' experiences of online abuse during last year's elections. The commission said it will develop and implement an Electoral Integrity Strategy across all media sources. "We will continue to participate in the implementation group established following the report of the Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life," the commission said. The plans highlight the importance of public awareness of the risks of online fraud, exploitation and scams and of how to mitigate them. The commission is also calling for greater implementation of advertising controls supporting consumers in identifying advertorial and other commercial content. "We will use our formal complaint-handling, supervision and investigative powers and take enforcement action when necessary to hold regulated entities to account," according to the plans. Executive Chair of Coimisiún na Meán Jeremy Godfrey said the publication of the strategy documents is an important milestone for the organisation. "As Ireland's media landscape evolves, we feel a unique responsibility to ensure that we shape the changing media environment to better serve Irish audiences, to uphold fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and to protect people, especially children, from harm," Mr Godfrey said. "Guided by our Strategy Statement, and supported by our annual Work Programmes, we look forward to continuing to deliver a thriving, diverse, creative, safe and trusted media landscape for Ireland," he added.
