Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne has introduced the Protection of Voice and Image Bill seeking to criminalise certain deep fakes.

Deep fakes are generated using AI and often create a somewhat realistic depiction of real life scenarios, but the technology is frequently used by bad actors who want to scam or mislead the public.

On Breakfast Briefing, Deputy Byrne said they are not looking to ban all deep fakes, only the harmful types.

“What we are seeking to address is a situation whereby those things which are actually really important to all of us, our voice, our image, our likeness, where they are used without our permission by another individual,” he said.

“So, for instance [on Newstalk] your listeners are listening to you, they're trusting your voice, they're trusting that the information that you provide to us is based on good research carried out by your research team.

“The technology is there now that by simply listening to your voice for a matter of seconds, it can pick up its tone and its texture, and it can replicate your voice.

“If it then uses what seems to be your voice to go off and to try to promote a product or a service or to seek to gain financial advantage or to do you harm in some way, then our view, is, as part of this legislation, it should become a standalone offence.”

Deep fake, AI and face swap in video edit. Image: Alamy