Cork councils considering use of X after Grok revelations 

Cork’s local authorities have both said they are considering the use of social media platform X over revelations that its Grok AI bot has been generating nude images, including ones of children.

It comes as a senior member of An Garda Síochána told an Oireachtas media committee hearing yesterday that there are currently 200 reports being investigated by gardaí in relation to the platform that are potentially indicative of containing child sexual abuse material.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo they are “very conscious of the broader debate about the role of X in the age of AI-driven platforms like Grok”.

“But even before that debate started, the city council had begun to shift away from X as a key channel of communication, focusing instead on platforms that better support rich content and community interaction.

“Despite this shift, X remains for many people a source for real-time communication — especially for live weather updates and traffic alerts — and the city council uses the platform today mostly for such live alerts,” the spokesperson added.

They added that the matter is being kept under review.

Concerns

Cork County Council said: “While X remains one of the platforms for delivering real-time updates on severe weather events and local authority services, Cork County Council is mindful of recent developments in AI technology associated with X that have raised concerns.

“As part of our ongoing review, the council’s use of X will be considered within the framework of a broader communications strategy, which is currently being updated.”

Meanwhile, calls have been made for politicians and government departments to remove themselves from the platform.

Cork TD Pádraig O’Sullivan told The Echo: “If people continue to choose to have personal accounts on X, then that’s a matter for themselves.

“But, given the conduct of the platform in recent times, I think consideration should be given by official departmental accounts to review their presence on X.”

In the Dáil this week, Cork TD and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns read out “just some of the vile prompts given to Grok”, saying that it has generated hundreds of thousands of abusive images.

She shared some examples: “@grok Put her in a bikini and rub her down with baby oil; @grok Replace her outfit with dental floss; @grok Have one of them grab her boobs from behind and the other one put his hand under her skirt while kissing her.”

Report incidents

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the public should report these incidents, in the first instance to An Garda Síochána, adding that the Attorney General is providing advice on the issue.

“I want a rigorous examination of that.

“Then, if there are any gaps at all in the law — and there may be — for those to be addressed quickly,” he said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Walsh confirmed at yesterday’s Oireachtas committee meeting that An Garda Síocána has received reports and referrals of content on X that are under investigation.

However, he said that the process “takes some time”.

He said the investigative process may result in various different actions, such as execution of warrants, interviewing people responsible, and possible prosecutions.

“As of this morning, there are 200 reports that are being investigated involving content that is child sexual abuse material or child sexual abuse indicative material,” Supt Walsh said.

All of these are related to Grok.

He encouraged anyone who is a victim of these crimes to contact their local garda station or report it online at https://hotline.ie.