Daragh Ó Briain
@daraghobrien.bsky.social
Flumping along in the world of data since Long Ago. Posts as @castlebridge_chief here and on https://mastodon.ie. CEO @ Castlebridge.ie.
Doctoral candidate at UL looking at #DataGovernance. Author of several books on data stuff.
Not the comedian
Doctoral candidate at UL looking at #DataGovernance. Author of several books on data stuff.
Not the comedian
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Ireland should be doing this too. There isn’t an alarm bell big enough to wake this government up. We should be in crisis mode, but instead it’s still shaking-developers’-hands-at-the-race-course, business as usual.
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) a national security concern and an existential threat.
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Iceland deems possible Atlantic current collapse a security risk
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of a major Atlantic Ocean current system a national security concern and an existential threat, enabling its government to strategize for worst-case scenarios, the country's climate minister told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Ireland should be doing this too. There isn’t an alarm bell big enough to wake this government up. We should be in crisis mode, but instead it’s still shaking-developers’-hands-at-the-race-course, business as usual.
The cognitive dissonance is unreal from @ec.europa.eu. On one hand we have a push to reduce regulatory controls over data and AI. On the other hand this: m.independent.ie/irish-news/p... - apparently democracy is doomed and we should roll over and give up on social contract.
‘These threats are coming to an election near you’ – Michael McGrath’s stark warning on ‘unprecedented’ Russian interference
There is no guarantee that democracy will survive, according to Ireland’s EU Commissioner, Michael McGrath, who said interference from Russia is “real and escalating”.
m.independent.ie
November 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The cognitive dissonance is unreal from @ec.europa.eu. On one hand we have a push to reduce regulatory controls over data and AI. On the other hand this: m.independent.ie/irish-news/p... - apparently democracy is doomed and we should roll over and give up on social contract.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
The EU Parliament's JURI committee will vote next week on whether to challenge the Commission’s decision to withdraw the AI Liability Directive before the EU Court of Justice - in a move that could replicate the path followed on the SEP proposal.
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
EU parliamentary committee to vote on AI liability withdrawal challenge next week | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
EU lawmakers on the Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee will vote next week on whether to challenge the European Commission’s withdrawal of the AI Liability Directive. The decision, which mirrors a s...
www.mlex.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The EU Parliament's JURI committee will vote next week on whether to challenge the Commission’s decision to withdraw the AI Liability Directive before the EU Court of Justice - in a move that could replicate the path followed on the SEP proposal.
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Under the proposed Digital Omnibus, processing of personal data via AI systems will not require consent, whereas email marketing will continue to need it.
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Under the proposed Digital Omnibus, processing of personal data via AI systems will not require consent, whereas email marketing will continue to need it.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Interviewer: How do you explain this 4-year gap on your resume?
Guy: That’s when I went to Yale...
Interviewer: That’s impressive. You are hired.
Guy: Thanks. I really needed this Yob.
Guy: That’s when I went to Yale...
Interviewer: That’s impressive. You are hired.
Guy: Thanks. I really needed this Yob.
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Interviewer: How do you explain this 4-year gap on your resume?
Guy: That’s when I went to Yale...
Interviewer: That’s impressive. You are hired.
Guy: Thanks. I really needed this Yob.
Guy: That’s when I went to Yale...
Interviewer: That’s impressive. You are hired.
Guy: Thanks. I really needed this Yob.
A movie that takes place where I am from..
Well.. around the corner from where I am from (literally).
Well.. around the corner from where I am from (literally).
November 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
A movie that takes place where I am from..
Well.. around the corner from where I am from (literally).
Well.. around the corner from where I am from (literally).
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
These are not trade negotiations, this is extortion by a bully. Let’s hope the EU will maintain a straight back and keep our digital consumer laws as they are. Drafting and changing laws is our prerogative, and not subject to the whims of other governments.
Team Trump draait Brussel de duimschroeven aan in handelsgesprekken
Team Trump draait Brussel de duimschroeven aan in handelsgesprekken
Handelsminister Howard Lutnick en handelsvertegenwoordiger Jamieson Greer waren deze maandag in Brussel voor overleg. De EU hoopte te onderhandelen over uitzonderingen op hoge importheffingen. Versoepel eerst de techregels, dan praten we verder, zeggen de VS.
www.nrc.nl
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
These are not trade negotiations, this is extortion by a bully. Let’s hope the EU will maintain a straight back and keep our digital consumer laws as they are. Drafting and changing laws is our prerogative, and not subject to the whims of other governments.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Finland uses “Russia-gauge” rails. They are going to move to European compatible rail gauge for their own resilience.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
Finland announces migration of its rail network to international gauge
The Finnish government announces the migration of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to international gauge (1,435 mm) from 2032. The change aims to improve military mobility and regional ...
www.trenvista.net
November 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Finland uses “Russia-gauge” rails. They are going to move to European compatible rail gauge for their own resilience.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
“We’re (the EU) removing our industrial strategy. Deregulation is not a strategy.”
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
November 24, 2025 at 10:14 AM
“We’re (the EU) removing our industrial strategy. Deregulation is not a strategy.”
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
10 years ago today I was doing a #DataProtection compliance audit for a client who got very irked when I pointed out that (amongst other things) their orange text on brown background branding was an accessibility nightmare for colour blind people as I had to use CTRL+F to find text on their website.
November 24, 2025 at 9:02 AM
10 years ago today I was doing a #DataProtection compliance audit for a client who got very irked when I pointed out that (amongst other things) their orange text on brown background branding was an accessibility nightmare for colour blind people as I had to use CTRL+F to find text on their website.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Yeah, to spell it out, this is about generative AI trying to brute force licensing!
Not cool machine learning tools that help you design a better reactor or something.
No, *generative AI* - the category that includes large language models and other content-spewing algos.
Not cool machine learning tools that help you design a better reactor or something.
No, *generative AI* - the category that includes large language models and other content-spewing algos.
Problem: AI needs massive amounts of power to thrive. Nuclear makes lots of power. Nuclear takes a long long time to do safely.
Proposed solution that I'm sure will have no unpleasant consequences: Use AI to speed up the construction of new nuclear plants.
Proposed solution that I'm sure will have no unpleasant consequences: Use AI to speed up the construction of new nuclear plants.
Power Companies Are Using AI To Build Nuclear Power Plants
Tech companies are betting big on nuclear energy to meet AIs massive power demands and they're using that AI to speed up the construction of new nuclear power plants.
www.404media.co
November 14, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Yeah, to spell it out, this is about generative AI trying to brute force licensing!
Not cool machine learning tools that help you design a better reactor or something.
No, *generative AI* - the category that includes large language models and other content-spewing algos.
Not cool machine learning tools that help you design a better reactor or something.
No, *generative AI* - the category that includes large language models and other content-spewing algos.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Eventually, long after it is needed and that need is clear to everyone, Ireland will switch to competing with other EU countries to attract migrants to choose it as a destination.
By then, whole generations of then-forgotten politicians will have made careers of poisoning the well of our reputation
By then, whole generations of then-forgotten politicians will have made careers of poisoning the well of our reputation
November 24, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Eventually, long after it is needed and that need is clear to everyone, Ireland will switch to competing with other EU countries to attract migrants to choose it as a destination.
By then, whole generations of then-forgotten politicians will have made careers of poisoning the well of our reputation
By then, whole generations of then-forgotten politicians will have made careers of poisoning the well of our reputation
Here’s the pitch: Jackie Chan’s character has been working in US for several years but an administrative cock-up in his immigration paperwork has him on the run from ICE.
A person directly familiar with the conversations tells Semafor that Donald Trump has personally pressed Larry Ellison to revive Brett Ratner's "Rush Hour" franchise.
www.semafor.com/article/11/2...
www.semafor.com/article/11/2...
Exclusive: How Trump is trying to remake American culture — starting with his favorite buddy-cop franchise
The president is offering some creative input on potential upcoming projects.
www.semafor.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Here’s the pitch: Jackie Chan’s character has been working in US for several years but an administrative cock-up in his immigration paperwork has him on the run from ICE.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
🙋🏻♀️ If anyone wants to factcheck his “red tape” concerns, I’ve 30+ years in the ecosystem of Irish construction regulation & procurement
A briefing for the Taoiseach ahead of a 'fireside chat' with Stripe warned the company’s co-founder billionaire John Collison was likely to be critical of Ireland’s 'red tape'.
The Taoiseach’s briefing ran to more than 25 pages for the one-on-one meeting jrnl.ie/6883478
The Taoiseach’s briefing ran to more than 25 pages for the one-on-one meeting jrnl.ie/6883478
Stripe billionaire would likely be critical of Ireland's 'red tape', Taoiseach warned ahead of chat
The Taoiseach’s briefing ran to more than twenty-five pages for the pre-arranged one-on-one ‘fireside chat’ between him and John Collison.
jrnl.ie
November 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
🙋🏻♀️ If anyone wants to factcheck his “red tape” concerns, I’ve 30+ years in the ecosystem of Irish construction regulation & procurement
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege - The Economic Times
Meta reportedly halted internal research into the mental health impacts of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence of harm. Internal documents revealed users reported lower depression and...
m.economictimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
what a surprise, majority of fash "Ireland is full" posts on shitter are from outside Ireland
November 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
what a surprise, majority of fash "Ireland is full" posts on shitter are from outside Ireland
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Fucking hell. It's like the Broligarchy says we can't have airbags in our vehicles because then there's no room for cutting-edge services like emotionally abusive chatbot passengers, and the EU is like "oh hm well i gues we DO want cutting-edge services don't we" 🙄
apparently the unprecedented wealth and inflcuence big tech is amassing at the cost of the most marginalised is not enough. big tech ceos are not that different from drug cartels
www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
EU set to water down landmark AI Act after pressure from big tech
European Commission proposes pauses to provisions in digital rule book amid concerns over implications for EU competitiveness
www.irishtimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Fucking hell. It's like the Broligarchy says we can't have airbags in our vehicles because then there's no room for cutting-edge services like emotionally abusive chatbot passengers, and the EU is like "oh hm well i gues we DO want cutting-edge services don't we" 🙄
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
y'know, if tech companies weren't so fired up to call every single thing "AI" it would be a lot easier to distinguish "ML spam filter that is well-sandboxed and tuned on your emails" from "giant context and IP-eroding foundation model that makes people paranoid and unhappy"
since the "google is now training gemini on your email contents" thing keeps bumping around here: it's _not happening_. I say this not to defend google but because I know a lot of people that have broken their filtering and made their lives much more annoying from sheer misinformation.
The malwarebytes Google opting-your-emails-into-ai-training thing is not true. The post is based on one bad tweet.
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
November 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
y'know, if tech companies weren't so fired up to call every single thing "AI" it would be a lot easier to distinguish "ML spam filter that is well-sandboxed and tuned on your emails" from "giant context and IP-eroding foundation model that makes people paranoid and unhappy"
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
This is the 2nd time a major government report from Deloitte has been found to contain errors likely generated by AI.
First in Australia and now, as The Independent has confirmed, in a major healthcare policy paper for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador #nlpoli #AI #deloitte
First in Australia and now, as The Independent has confirmed, in a major healthcare policy paper for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador #nlpoli #AI #deloitte
A major healthcare policy paper commissioned by @govnl.bsky.social government from Deloitte at a cost of $1.6 million, cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months. #nlpoli #AI
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
Major N.L. healthcare report contains errors likely generated by A.I. – The Independent
$1.6 million Health Human Resources Plan from Deloitte cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months
theindependent.ca
November 22, 2025 at 3:35 PM
In the year of our Lord 1806
We set sail from the coal quay of Cork.
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the grand City Hall in New York.
We set sail from the coal quay of Cork.
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the grand City Hall in New York.
November 23, 2025 at 8:53 AM
In the year of our Lord 1806
We set sail from the coal quay of Cork.
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the grand City Hall in New York.
We set sail from the coal quay of Cork.
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the grand City Hall in New York.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Dublin City Council moves towards deploying AI tools to “increase staff productivity”. If this will have any material impact on workers, or jobs, the council’s management will be held to account, says a representative for the union Fórsa. www.dublininquirer.c...
November 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Dublin City Council moves towards deploying AI tools to “increase staff productivity”. If this will have any material impact on workers, or jobs, the council’s management will be held to account, says a representative for the union Fórsa. www.dublininquirer.c...
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
The worst thing about generative AI is that it cannot tell you it did not find anything so it must make something up and not tell you what it did.
November 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The worst thing about generative AI is that it cannot tell you it did not find anything so it must make something up and not tell you what it did.
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
"JP Morgan recently calculated that the tech industry must draw an extra $650 billion in revenue every year — nearly double Google’s total sales in 2024 — for AI investments forecast through 2030 to earn a modest 10 percent return."
Analysis | Are we in an AI bubble? Eight charts will help you decide.
Soaring investment in artificial intelligence has triggered warnings about a risky financial bubble. These charts show reasons to be calm — or concerned.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
"JP Morgan recently calculated that the tech industry must draw an extra $650 billion in revenue every year — nearly double Google’s total sales in 2024 — for AI investments forecast through 2030 to earn a modest 10 percent return."
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
Reposted by Daragh Ó Briain
This is absolutely amazing. Come check out "The Usenet" with Cory Doctorow.
How To Use the Internet (1995): a 23-year-old Cory Doctorow shows off Usenet, the Internet Underground Music Archive, Justin's Links from the Underground, and more to the CBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
How to use the internet, 1995
Computer consultant Cory Doctorow predicts video on demand while showing a CBC reporter some of the new medium's features. Aired on CBC's The National on June 19, 1995.
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www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:46 PM
This is absolutely amazing. Come check out "The Usenet" with Cory Doctorow.