Fianna Fáil aims to criminalize deceptive deepfakes in Ireland

Fianna Fáil, an Irish political party, is working on new laws to make certain uses of deepfakes illegal. Deepfakes are images or videos created using artificial intelligence that can mislead or deceive people. The party wants to criminalize the creation and use of deepfakes specifically designed to defraud or trick the public. Malcolm Byrne, a member of the Irish parliament from Wicklow-Wexford, is leading this initiative. He compared misleading deepfakes to counterfeit money and stressed the need to control these harmful technologies. Byrne pointed out that many public figures, including journalists and election candidates, have faced misleading content that has forced them to take legal action to remove it. Byrne emphasized the importance of trust in people's images and voices. He said that when someone misuses these to deceive, it can have serious consequences. The proposed law will not only aim to protect individuals but also ensure that creators of parody content or AI-generated images are not unfairly prosecuted. The new legislation will require online platforms to inform users when sharing AI-generated content. The EU’s AI Act will also enforce strict regulations on how personal data and copyrighted material can be used. Byrne argues that a balance is needed between free speech and protecting individuals from harmful deepfakes. He believes that appropriate legal measures are essential to prevent citizens from being tricked or harmed by misleading AI content.