Irish police investigating 200 reports of AI-generated child abuse material on X
Irish police are investigating 200 reports of child sexual abuse material allegedly generated using Grok AI on X platform as of January 2026. A senior detective told lawmakers the investigations are ongoing and authorities are coordinating with the media regulator.
What happened
As of 14 January 2026, An Garda Síochána reported 200 open investigations into content shared on X platform that is potentially indicative of containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) allegedly generated using the AI tool Grok.
Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Walsh told an Oireachtas Media Committee hearing that gardaí remain in contact with media regulator Coimisiún na Meán about AI-generated CSAM and believe existing legislation allows them to carry out investigations.
Reported impact
The escalation of CSAM and other AI-generated sexualised material on the platform has prompted serious concerns among Irish politicians and law enforcement.
Index analysis
Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Walsh stated he was not aware of any instance in which a social media company had been prosecuted for facilitating the distribution of CSAM.
Governance controls
Gardaí said reports are being treated with utmost seriousness and thoroughly investigated, with potential outcomes including execution of warrants, interviews, court proceedings or referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.