Gardai ‘not actively monitoring’ the dark web, says assistant commissioner

The Gardai are “not actively monitoring” the dark web, a Garda assistant commissioner has said.

Appearing in front of the Artificial Intelligence Committee, Angela Willis was asked by Fianna Fail’s Naoise O Cearuil if, given the prevalence of child sexual exploitation on the dark web, “An Garda Siochana are actively monitoring the dark web”.

She responded: “We’re not actively monitoring the dark web”.

The Kildare North TD asked if they investigate when evidence comes before the Gardai or they have “a reason to believe” there is illegal material on the dark web, she responded “yes”.

She also confirmed An Garda Siochana have the technical expertise to do so.

Asked why “there isn’t an extensive monitoring of the dark web and only when a complaint arises?” the Assistant Commissioner Organised and Serious Crime said: “I suppose it’s down to capacity. It’s as simple as that, and our capacity to monitor it.”

She said if the Gardai could “deploy AI tools in that space” there would be “huge opportunities for us”, but that they had not “assessed any tools to date”.