A “whole Government approach” is needed to address the dangers of AI in elections and referenda, according to Senator Malcolm Byrne. 

The Fianna Fáil senator is calling for the creation of a special Oireachtas Committee on artificial intelligence (AI). 

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Mr Byrne warned Ireland is falling behind when it comes to AI despite the size of our tech industry. 

“We're going to see AI impacting more and more areas of our lives, whether it’s healthcare or transport or education,” he said. 

“I'm obviously concerned about impact it has on our democratic processes, particularly elections and referenda.” 

AI in elections abroad

Senator Byrne noted elements of AI had already seeped into elections in Argentina and Slovakia – with disconcerting results. 

“In some cases, we saw posters and some adverts made by AI and there were some efforts at deepfakes,” he said. 

In Argentina’s presidential election, for example, failed incumbent Sergio Massa’s team created a deepfake video of opponent Javier Milei explaining how a market for human organs would work. 

Mr Milei’s team also used AI to depict Mr Massa as a Chinese communist leader and himself as a lion. 

Mr Byrne said Ireland’s Electoral Commission (EC) currently has no plans for how it would deal with the use of AI in upcoming elections and referenda. 

'Parties should sign up to a code'

A joint referendum on removing the role of women in the home and expanding the concept of family in the Irish Constitution is due to take place on March 8th, while a General Election is due to happen by March 2025. 

Local and European elections are also taking place this summer. 

“As we’re moving into a period of a lot of elections and referenda in Ireland, it is critical there are a number of actions taken,” Senator Byrne said. 

“I know the EC will be looking at this, but I think it’s important political parties would sign up to a code that they wouldn’t misuse AI in the course of an election."

Who is the Minister for Technology?

Senator Byrne noted the two Ministers of State responsible for AI, Dara Calleary and Ossian Smyth, are “doing an excellent job”. He said, however, it's not enough.

“There really needs to be a whole Government approach to how technology is going to affect all our lives,” he said. 

“One of the challenges is if you asked me who is the Minister for technology and technological developments, it falls between so many departments.” 

On December 9th, the EU broadly agreed on the world's first comprehensive set of laws around AI, which won’t come into effect until at least 2025. 

Senator Byrne said the AI Act is “probably be the most influential piece of legislation agreed at European level".

The proposed laws will regulate how services like ChatGPT and facial recognition are used in future.