EDMO Ireland was represented this week at the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, where Dr. Eileen Culloty addressed members on the implications of AI for truth, democracy, and information integrity.
The Committee is examining the development, deployment, and governance of artificial intelligence in Ireland, with a particular focus on accountability, regulation, and societal impact. The session brought together policymakers and expert witnesses to consider how AI technologies are reshaping information environments and what policy responses may be required.
Speaking on behalf of EDMO Ireland, Dr. Culloty outlined the organisation’s work as an EU-funded initiative addressing disinformation through research, fact-checking, media literacy, and policy analysis. She emphasised that AI literacy is essential and highlighted the need to distinguish between AI research and legitimate applications, and AI as a new frontier for major technology companies reshaping information ecosystems.
Drawing on EDMO Ireland’s experience in disinformation research and platform co-regulation, Dr. Culloty raised concerns about generative AI systems. She noted that such systems do not aim at factual accuracy but instead generate statistically plausible outputs, a limitation that is widely acknowledged. As these tools become embedded in everyday information practices, EDMO Ireland warned of risks to human reasoning and democratic debate, alongside the proliferation of scams, low-quality content, and inadequately labelled AI-generated material.
Dr. Culloty’s opening statement was reported by Irish Examiner, which covered her concerns regarding the reliability of generative AI and its democratic implications. Her contributions to the Committee’s wider discussion were also reported by RTÉ News and The Irish Times, including coverage of regulatory challenges and the adequacy of existing EU frameworks in addressing the impact of AI on information integrity and creators’ rights.
Reflecting on regulatory approaches to emerging technologies, EDMO Ireland cautioned against repeating earlier policy mistakes characterised by weak oversight in the name of innovation. As AI systems become more deeply integrated into social and political life, the organisation stressed the importance of robust governance measures that protect democratic values while supporting responsible technological development.
