18th July 2023
Dara Calleary TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, today met the CEO of the Electoral Commission, Art O’Leary to discuss digital issues, in particular the use of artificial intelligence tools.
Minister Calleary said:
“We are working hard to ensure that digital services and artificial intelligence are safe and accountable, including around elections. The Electoral Commission’s mandate to protect the fairness and integrity of elections is crucial in securing our democracy and strengthening public trust. Digital media literacy including around the use of AI tools will be an important part of the Commission’s work, and we will work across government to support this.
“Digital Regulation will also have a key role in addressing the spread of disinformation online and the risk of manipulation of electoral processes. My Department is responsible for implementing the EU’s new Digital Services Act and the AI Act (when it comes into force) in Ireland. The Digital Services Act provides regulators with enforcement tools to ensure online platforms take measures to reduce harms and counter risks online, introduces strong protections for users' rights online, and places digital platforms under a unique new transparency and accountability framework. The AI Act will put in place a horizontal EU regulatory framework which will apply to AI developed or used in the EU. Implementation of these new digital regulations as part of the development of an overall coherent framework for digital regulation in Ireland will be crucial in supporting the Electoral Commission in achieving their mandate.”
ENDS
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