Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

266. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has engaged with representative groups for voice actors on the protection of their work and their voices from use by artificial intelligence (AI) companies to train models or to provide AI-generated voice-overs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40643/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment recognises the increasing importance of ensuring that the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies uphold the rights of creators, including musicians, performers, and voice actors.

Ireland and the EU are currently implementing the AI Act, which includes provisions related to general-purpose AI that will come into force on 2 August of this year. These provisions will require general purpose AI providers to put in place a policy to comply with EU copyright law, and document technical information about the model for the purpose of providing that information upon request to the AI Office and national competent authorities. The AI Office, which is part of the European Commission, will directly enforce these provisions of the AI Act. From 2 August 2026, AI-generated output must be digitally watermarked, allowing it to be identified as such.

The AI Advisory Council’s February 2025 Advice Paper on the Impact of AI on Ireland's Creative Sector noted the transformative impact of AI on creative professions and contained recommendations, including to safeguard creators and prevent misuse of their voice and likeness. Following the report’s publication, this Department facilitated a meeting between representatives of the creative sector members of the AI Advisory Council, and attended by officials from both my Department and the Department of Communications, Culture and Sport, to discuss the Advice Paper and challenges related to AI.

The Department has circulated a detailed policy questionnaire prepared by the Danish Presidency which seeks to gather stakeholder input on emerging issues including on image, voice and likeness. The responses to these will feed into the review of the 2019 Copyright in the DSM Directive. This process is at a very early stage, and it may result in proposed changes to EU copyright laws, including in response to technological developments and AI. The Department will engage with stakeholders in Ireland to ensure their views are considered at all stages of this process.