Gosport MP says AI has "huge potential" but needs to be a safe space
Caroline Dinenage MP says AI can be positive for the economy and help people but it needs to be a safe space
The Gosport MP says AI can be positive for the economy and helping people's futures, but it needs to be a safe space.
It comes after AI recently faced backlash with X's Grok AI tool being used to create sexually explicit images online of women and girls.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport says AI can be positive for the economy and helping people's futures, but it needs to be a space where unpleasant content cannot exist.
She said: "We know that AI has got huge potential for our economy, for people's futures, for the way out public services operate and for people's enjoyment as well.
"But we want to make sure that it's not a place where really unpleasant content that undermines and demeans women, but also which actually generates some really unpleasant child abuse material, can be allowed to perpetuate.
"So we need to make sure that we're taking advantages of all the opportunities of AI, but also we're warding against some of the dangers and that there are rules.
"Where something is illegal offline, it should be illegal online as well."
Dame Dinenage also called out the decision to turn off the image creation function for non-subscribers.
She said: "They say that non-subscribers can't use this function, but all this effectively has done is turn criminals and perverts into paying customers."
She added that she wants to see stronger regulations in the Online Safety Act to ensure the functionality of generative AI can be regulated.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Since the Online Safety Act has come into force – less than a year ago – we’ve launched investigations into more than 90 platforms and issued several fines.
"As a result of our action, age checks are now widespread, several high-risk sites are blocked, child sexual abuse material is being tackled, and parents have told us that our rules are improving the safety of their children.
“While the legislation doesn’t cover all generative AI services, many are in scope, and we’ve set that out clearly.
"Last week, we acted immediately to investigate the deeply concerning reports of potentially illegal AI-generated sexual imagery circulating on X, and launched an investigation into an AI companion chatbot in relation to age-check requirements under the Act.
“This shows that we will not hesitate to use the full force of our enforcement powers against any regulated service which fails to take appropriate steps to protect people from illegal content.”
A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said: "Through the Online Safety Act, we've introduced some of the strongest protections in the world, requiring platforms to protect children from harmful content and remove illegal material, including where it is AI-generated.
"Companies that fail to comply could face significant fines.
“As the Tech Secretary reiterated this week, protecting children online is a top priority.
"That is why we are launching a national consultation on bold measures to protect children online, from banning social media for under-16s to tackling addictive design features. When it comes to children's safety, nothing is off the table."