AI “Girlfriend” Apps Raising Serious Child Safety Concerns in Ireland
Children across Ireland are facing growing exposure to AI-powered “girlfriend” porn apps, prompting warnings from researchers and child protection advocates about the potential risks these technologies pose to young users. According to reporting by the Irish Examiner, these apps and related “nudification” services allow users to create highly sexualised and degrading content, often depicting women in scenarios that can normalise sexual violence.
Experts argue that the widespread promotion of these apps on social media and other online platforms has created an environment where boys can be groomed to perpetrate sexual violence while girls may be conditioned to accept such behaviour. “These are not girlfriends, they are sex slaves that will do whatever you tell them,” said Eoghan Cleary, a researcher with the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute (SERP) at University College Dublin (UCD).
Research has shown that some platforms allow users to digitally manipulate images of women — including minors — in sexually explicit or violent scenarios. Internationally, this has sparked a regulatory response: the British government recently announced plans to ban AI girlfriend and nudification apps and websites. In Australia, research highlighted that certain sites permit boys to create scenes depicting sexual torture of women and underage girls.
Irish children’s charities and experts are calling for stronger regulation and legal accountability, including the criminalisation of executives behind these AI porn platforms. The concerns extend beyond digital abuse, highlighting broader implications for societal attitudes toward consent and healthy sexual relationships.
Commenting on the rise of these technologies, Cleary stressed that AI-powered sexual apps are accelerating exposure to extreme adult content in ways that traditional pornography could not, presenting unique challenges for parents, educators, and policymakers alike.
As AI continues to advance, regulators, child protection organisations, and international governments are grappling with how to prevent exploitation while keeping pace with rapidly evolving technologies. Advocates argue that robust legislation, stringent enforcement, and public awareness campaigns are urgently needed to safeguard children and curb the harmful effects of AI-generated sexual content.
Aaron Joyce, Newswire, L.T.T Media; Newsdesk; January 5, 2026
Sources:
