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Reposted by Liz Carolan

For Tech’s Sake @fortechssakepod.bsky.social · 1d

As of today, 10 October, the rules governing online political advertising in the EU have changed.

Listen to tech and democracy expert @lizcarolan.com explain how “malicious compliance” with these rules might make things even murkier:

pod.fo/e/33a104

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 2d

In the @irishexaminer.bsky.social today @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social I map out the global authoritarian resurgence and what it means for Ireland

Authoritarian states have powerful reach — even in Ireland

The return to authoritarianism worldwide — not least in the US — will have ramifications for internationally-linked universities and corporations here, write Alexander Dukalskis and Alexander Cooley

www.irishexaminer.com

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 1d

Neither candidates or voters are used to a 2 horse race in Ireland; I think it'll lead us to a fractious, attack-laden campaign, and turnout below 40%

Latest newsletter

#Aras25

www.thebriefing.ie/our-first-am...

Our first American-style election?

Our politics is a techno-coloured pick-and-mix, this election is a Soviet department store

www.thebriefing.ie

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 2d

We accidentally have a first past the post election

I wonder if not seeking No. 2s will change how the hopefuls campaign

We tend not to see lots of negativity directly from candidates who need those 2nd prefs

Will that change? 🤔

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 2d

Two ways our voting system spoiled us:

1) actual quote from my 4yo: “Why have no presidents knocked on our door?”

2) Having to chose between just 2 candidates - it’s tough & we’re not used to it - we expect a political pick-and-mix & we’re getting Soviet department store

4 year old waiting at the door for “the presidents” to show up

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 4d

Deletion of Jim Gavin ads shows we can’t rely on big tech for democratic architecture

I wrote something for the paper 👇🏻

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Liz Carolan: Deleting of ‘Jim Gavin for President’ ads shows we can’t rely on big tech for democratic architecture

Campaign history will be wiped out as providers of digital political ads press delete on their archives

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Simon McGarr @tupped.bsky.social · 4d

This statement can be both accurate and misleading.

It is intended to reassure Dublin’s largest employer (Google) that no effective regulatory action will be taken, while justifying that by the use of the word “precise” in the last line.

Without a definition, it can be used to avoid all action.

Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 4d

We told the DPC about this. It has known for years.
But yesterday it released this in a statement - perhaps in an attempt to absolve itself from the location scandal shown on national TV recently.
The statement is incorrect.

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 4d

Deletion of Jim Gavin ads shows we can’t rely on big tech for democratic architecture

I wrote something for the paper 👇🏻

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Liz Carolan: Deleting of ‘Jim Gavin for President’ ads shows we can’t rely on big tech for democratic architecture

Campaign history will be wiped out as providers of digital political ads press delete on their archives

www.irishtimes.com

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 5d

In theory, but I wonder how many would want to show him that kind of grace this morning...

Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 5d

The financial hit to FF of Jim Gavin bowing out

TL;DR: possibly €250k

#Aras25

www.thebriefing.ie/the-financia...

The financial hit of Jim Gavin bowing out

Fianna Fáil unlikely to get the €250k back from the state they would have if Jim Gavin had run

www.thebriefing.ie

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 5d

If nothing else, Jim Gavin withdrawing is a financial hit to FF

They'll have banked on him getting 12.5% & his expenses back, €250k worth

MDH spent €75k on posters last time out; €53k on leaflets, Sean G. spent €18k on photos, plus staff, all those drones...

Nothing back now #Aras25

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Matt Ghoulberg @mattgoldberg.bsky.social · 7d

Obviously, this is loser shit, but I think AI has really cemented itself as the visual language of fascism. It's anti-human, flattened, uninteresting, and cheap. It's like looking at a Potemkin Village and thinking that's the same as architecture.

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 8d

Posted by the President of the United States.

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 13d

I just wrote up why Google erasing 7 years of Europe's political history matters - www.thebriefing.ie/google-just-...

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · 13d

All EU countries appear to be gone in the Google political ad library

By @lizcarolan.com

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 13d

I wrote up why this matters here: www.thebriefing.ie/google-just-...

Google just erased 7 years of our political history

Google appears to have deleted its political ad archive for the EU; so the last 7 years of ads, of political spending, of messaging, of targeting - on YouTube, on Search and for display ads - for coun...

www.thebriefing.ie

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 13d

I just wrote up why Google erasing 7 years of Europe's political history matters - www.thebriefing.ie/google-just-...

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 13d

So Google will not longer let you even search for political ads on their platform in the EU

Where has the archive of ads from the last 7 years gone?

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Helen Czerski @helenczerski.bsky.social · 14d

In discussion with a computer scientist from the University of Cambridge last night:

Me: "you've described some of the things that AI is good at. How would you describe the category of things it's not good at?

**pause**

Him: "Anything where it has to be right".

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 15d

Her verdict so far:

Heather - rhymes with feather so thumbs up
Catherine - same name as my mother, so again thumbs up
Jim - Jimmy is better than Jim so she just can't entertain him until he considers changing his name

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 15d

My daughter wants to know why there are only 3 people on posters

Wait til she grows up and I tell her about FPTP #Aras25

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Naomi O'Leary @naomiohreally.bsky.social · 15d

Reading the Turkish submissions to a UN panel of inquiry into the Israeli storming of the Mavi Marmara aid flotilla in 2010 :(

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 17d

And please subscribe to Democracy for Sale to support independent investigative journalism!

democracyforsale.substack.com

Democracy for Sale | Peter Geoghegan | Substack

A newsletter dedicated to revealing how dark money and hidden influence threaten our democracy. Click to read Democracy for Sale, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.

democracyforsale.substack.com

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 17d

What a story by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & the gang

Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 17d

🔴 NEW: Larry Ellison’s £257m bet on Tony Blair

Our investigation with @lighthousereports.com reveals how the Tony Blair Institute has been accused of pushing the interests of tech tycoon Ellison — Trump’s “CEO of everything” — and his company Oracle

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Inside the Tony Blair Institute

A former PM, Trump's 'CEO of everything' and NHS data - what could go wrong?

democracyforsale.substack.com

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Reposted by Liz Carolan

Mike McGrath-Bryan @mikemcgb.bsky.social · 17d

Do you (have to) use LinkedIn? Want out of their AI model-training bollocksology?

Opt out here, h/t to @lizcarolan.com:

www.linkedin.com/mypreference...

#spéirghorm #ireland #linkedin #notoai

LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn

Login to LinkedIn to keep in touch with people you know, share ideas, and build your career.

www.linkedin.com

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Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 17d

49 out of 50 of the top English language news sites saw their web traffic drop in the last year (!!)

According to 1 of 3 “good reads“ in the newsletter www.thebriefing.ie/which-news-s...

Sent from Wuppertal, home of the marvelous hanging train

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