@olgacronin.bsky.social
Reposted
We do know that Meta has registered that it met and/or emailed the Minister to lobby him "to explain Meta's position on app-store age verification".
And that the Minister's plan was announced after that lobbying took place.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
And that the Minister's plan was announced after that lobbying took place.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
The Gist: Waving the Ban Hammer
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one. This is the Gist.
www.thegist.ie
December 9, 2025 at 10:28 PM
We do know that Meta has registered that it met and/or emailed the Minister to lobby him "to explain Meta's position on app-store age verification".
And that the Minister's plan was announced after that lobbying took place.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
And that the Minister's plan was announced after that lobbying took place.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
Reposted
Because of external factors, this weekend’s Gist came out on Tuesday.
So if you got a chance to hit repost that would be very helpful.
It’s on Patrick O’Donovan’s plans to implement Meta’s preferred form of ‘regulation’, but also to make it worse.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
So if you got a chance to hit repost that would be very helpful.
It’s on Patrick O’Donovan’s plans to implement Meta’s preferred form of ‘regulation’, but also to make it worse.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
December 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Because of external factors, this weekend’s Gist came out on Tuesday.
So if you got a chance to hit repost that would be very helpful.
It’s on Patrick O’Donovan’s plans to implement Meta’s preferred form of ‘regulation’, but also to make it worse.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
So if you got a chance to hit repost that would be very helpful.
It’s on Patrick O’Donovan’s plans to implement Meta’s preferred form of ‘regulation’, but also to make it worse.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
Reposted
This Morning Ireland package on age verification and the Irish government’s ill-conceived notions has some contributions from me pointing out that the Australian social media ban for under 16s has been introduced, not on foot of evidence, but by Ministerial Impulse.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Australia 'taking back control' from tech giants with social media ban
Brian O'Donovan, Work and Technology Correspondent, discusses the impact of the ban on social media use for under 16's in Australia.
www.rte.ie
December 10, 2025 at 10:38 AM
This Morning Ireland package on age verification and the Irish government’s ill-conceived notions has some contributions from me pointing out that the Australian social media ban for under 16s has been introduced, not on foot of evidence, but by Ministerial Impulse.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Must read from @tupped.bsky.social about the plan to force people to get and use a MyGovID account - underpinned by an *unlawful biometric database of 70% of the population's faces* - in order to access the internet 👇
New Gist: Waving the Ban Hammer
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one.
It's government by Dunning-Kruger.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one.
It's government by Dunning-Kruger.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
The Gist: Waving the Ban Hammer
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one. This is the Gist.
www.thegist.ie
December 9, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Must read from @tupped.bsky.social about the plan to force people to get and use a MyGovID account - underpinned by an *unlawful biometric database of 70% of the population's faces* - in order to access the internet 👇
Reposted
New Gist: Waving the Ban Hammer
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one.
It's government by Dunning-Kruger.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one.
It's government by Dunning-Kruger.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
The Gist: Waving the Ban Hammer
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one. This is the Gist.
www.thegist.ie
December 9, 2025 at 5:18 PM
New Gist: Waving the Ban Hammer
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one.
It's government by Dunning-Kruger.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
Patrick O'Donovan has proposed a National ID system, a Meta-endorsed regulation model and a mass surveillance machine, all in one.
It's government by Dunning-Kruger.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
Reposted
Reposted
This is how the Irish government will try and sell mandatory online ID to the public;
"Do you think your privacy is more important than protecting children online? Why don't you want to keep kids safe from online predators?"
As if there is a binary choice, your privacy or child safety.
"Do you think your privacy is more important than protecting children online? Why don't you want to keep kids safe from online predators?"
As if there is a binary choice, your privacy or child safety.
Mr O’Donovan said the Public Services Card “floundered because some interest groups outside of the House, interested more in privacy than other issues, got their way”. Funny way to characterise something which the independent regulator found illegal, imposing a €550,000 fine on the state.
Plan to verify people’s ages on line with Government ID a ‘disproportionate response’
Civil liberty and digital privacy campaigners question legal basis for proposed digital wallets
www.irishtimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:27 PM
This is how the Irish government will try and sell mandatory online ID to the public;
"Do you think your privacy is more important than protecting children online? Why don't you want to keep kids safe from online predators?"
As if there is a binary choice, your privacy or child safety.
"Do you think your privacy is more important than protecting children online? Why don't you want to keep kids safe from online predators?"
As if there is a binary choice, your privacy or child safety.
Reposted
Presumably the intention is to push on with the equally illegal plan to require government ID cards to use the internet, until 'interest groups' such as ourselves restrain the illegality. Anyway, keep supporting your local digital rights group!
Donate to DRI - Digital Rights Ireland
To help us continue working for your rights, please support DRI with a donation; we suggest €5 per month, but even a €20 euro once-off donation will help a lot! Scroll down to make a single or monthly...
www.digitalrights.ie
December 9, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Presumably the intention is to push on with the equally illegal plan to require government ID cards to use the internet, until 'interest groups' such as ourselves restrain the illegality. Anyway, keep supporting your local digital rights group!
Reposted
Mr O’Donovan said the Public Services Card “floundered because some interest groups outside of the House, interested more in privacy than other issues, got their way”. Funny way to characterise something which the independent regulator found illegal, imposing a €550,000 fine on the state.
Plan to verify people’s ages on line with Government ID a ‘disproportionate response’
Civil liberty and digital privacy campaigners question legal basis for proposed digital wallets
www.irishtimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Mr O’Donovan said the Public Services Card “floundered because some interest groups outside of the House, interested more in privacy than other issues, got their way”. Funny way to characterise something which the independent regulator found illegal, imposing a €550,000 fine on the state.
Reposted
The joint submission of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Digital Rights Ireland on the proposed National Cyber Security Bill is now up on the ICCL website:
National Cyber Security Bill raises mass surveillance and internet death penalty concerns as proposed powers exceed EU directive (NIS2)
Digital Rights Ireland and ICCL will address the Oireachtas Justice Committee to raise concerns about the National Cyber Security Bill 2024.
www.iccl.ie
November 26, 2025 at 9:25 AM
The joint submission of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Digital Rights Ireland on the proposed National Cyber Security Bill is now up on the ICCL website:
Reposted
Yesterday @tjmcintyre.com of Digital Rights Ireland and ICCL told the Justice Committee that sections of the National Cyber Security Bill would give the National Cyber Security Centre powers that go beyond what is required under the NIS2 Directive, which Ireland is obliged to transpose. (1/15)
November 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Yesterday @tjmcintyre.com of Digital Rights Ireland and ICCL told the Justice Committee that sections of the National Cyber Security Bill would give the National Cyber Security Centre powers that go beyond what is required under the NIS2 Directive, which Ireland is obliged to transpose. (1/15)
Reposted
Today, ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland will tell the Oireachtas Justice Committee that there is no justification for scanning the networks of homes and small businesses under the National Cyber Security Bill ➡️ www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
'No justification' for State data-collection powers in proposed bill, say experts
The National Cyber Security Bill will also give “extremely wide” internet-blocking powers to the State's cyber security unit if passed, the director of Digital Rights Ireland has warned.
www.irishexaminer.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Today, ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland will tell the Oireachtas Justice Committee that there is no justification for scanning the networks of homes and small businesses under the National Cyber Security Bill ➡️ www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
Reposted
'No justification' for State data-collection powers in proposed bill, say experts
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
'No justification' for State data-collection powers in proposed bill, say experts
The National Cyber Security Bill will also give “extremely wide” internet-blocking powers to the State's cyber security unit if passed, the director of Digital Rights Ireland has warned.
www.irishexaminer.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:42 PM
'No justification' for State data-collection powers in proposed bill, say experts
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
Reposted
I'll be appearing in front of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration later today to discuss Irish transposition of the NIS2 Directive; @ciananbrennan.bsky.social has a preview of the issues in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social.
'No justification' for State data-collection powers in proposed bill, say experts
The National Cyber Security Bill will also give “extremely wide” internet-blocking powers to the State's cyber security unit if passed, the director of Digital Rights Ireland has warned.
www.irishexaminer.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I'll be appearing in front of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration later today to discuss Irish transposition of the NIS2 Directive; @ciananbrennan.bsky.social has a preview of the issues in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social.
Reposted
It’s a pain in the arse when people are faced with “gold plated” EU legislation.
Oh.. wait… no. It’s the Dept of Justice that wants to put bulk interception and monitoring of businesses and domestic internet use into the legislation transposing NIS2 Directive.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
Oh.. wait… no. It’s the Dept of Justice that wants to put bulk interception and monitoring of businesses and domestic internet use into the legislation transposing NIS2 Directive.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
'No justification' for State data-collection powers in proposed bill, say experts
The National Cyber Security Bill will also give “extremely wide” internet-blocking powers to the State's cyber security unit if passed, the director of Digital Rights Ireland has warned.
www.irishexaminer.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
It’s a pain in the arse when people are faced with “gold plated” EU legislation.
Oh.. wait… no. It’s the Dept of Justice that wants to put bulk interception and monitoring of businesses and domestic internet use into the legislation transposing NIS2 Directive.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
Oh.. wait… no. It’s the Dept of Justice that wants to put bulk interception and monitoring of businesses and domestic internet use into the legislation transposing NIS2 Directive.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
Reposted
The excellent @shamimmalekmian.bsky.social @dublininquirer.com
whose earlier piece triggered our investigation has also written about this
www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
whose earlier piece triggered our investigation has also written about this
www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice?
“The public should not be used as guinea pigs, particularly vulnerable groups in a legal process which could be impacted by a chatbot giving an incorrect answer.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The excellent @shamimmalekmian.bsky.social @dublininquirer.com
whose earlier piece triggered our investigation has also written about this
www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
whose earlier piece triggered our investigation has also written about this
www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Reposted
"The Minister states that “the chatbot was tested extensively...checking responses to “55 questions out of which 53 were deemed successful"
Wendy Lyon, an immigration & human rights solicitor at Abbey law, found that many of these 53 “successful” responses were wrong, unhelpful & misleading."
Wendy Lyon, an immigration & human rights solicitor at Abbey law, found that many of these 53 “successful” responses were wrong, unhelpful & misleading."
Our investigation into Irish Department of Justice use of chatbots. The department hides behind disclaimers while deploying misleading chatbots.
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
Department of Justice chatbots mislead people seeking information
Irish Department of Justice internalises the AI hype and takes no responsibility for misleading chatbots.
www.iccl.ie
November 19, 2025 at 12:36 PM
"The Minister states that “the chatbot was tested extensively...checking responses to “55 questions out of which 53 were deemed successful"
Wendy Lyon, an immigration & human rights solicitor at Abbey law, found that many of these 53 “successful” responses were wrong, unhelpful & misleading."
Wendy Lyon, an immigration & human rights solicitor at Abbey law, found that many of these 53 “successful” responses were wrong, unhelpful & misleading."
Reposted
The bottom of the article has some of the errors. As @wendylyon.bsky.social who identified these errors emphasises, these are only a selection of errors.
bsky.app/profile/wend...
bsky.app/profile/wend...
You can read a selection of my criticisms of the chatbot’s replies (I emphasise, merely a selection) here
Our investigation into Irish Department of Justice use of chatbots. The department hides behind disclaimers while deploying misleading chatbots.
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
November 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The bottom of the article has some of the errors. As @wendylyon.bsky.social who identified these errors emphasises, these are only a selection of errors.
bsky.app/profile/wend...
bsky.app/profile/wend...
Reposted
And the department is not immune to the #AIHype.
One of the documents received through FOI requests makes this claim:
“Copilot doesn’t just connect ChatGPT with Microsoft 365,” but it “turn[s] your words into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet.”
One of the documents received through FOI requests makes this claim:
“Copilot doesn’t just connect ChatGPT with Microsoft 365,” but it “turn[s] your words into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet.”
November 19, 2025 at 11:14 AM
And the department is not immune to the #AIHype.
One of the documents received through FOI requests makes this claim:
“Copilot doesn’t just connect ChatGPT with Microsoft 365,” but it “turn[s] your words into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet.”
One of the documents received through FOI requests makes this claim:
“Copilot doesn’t just connect ChatGPT with Microsoft 365,” but it “turn[s] your words into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet.”
Reposted
Our investigation into Irish Department of Justice use of chatbots. The department hides behind disclaimers while deploying misleading chatbots.
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
Department of Justice chatbots mislead people seeking information
Irish Department of Justice internalises the AI hype and takes no responsibility for misleading chatbots.
www.iccl.ie
November 19, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Our investigation into Irish Department of Justice use of chatbots. The department hides behind disclaimers while deploying misleading chatbots.
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
@iccl.bsky.social @abeba.bsky.social @johnnyryan.bsky.social
www.iccl.ie/news/irish-d...
Reposted
A new game seeks to get Dubliners to think about who is tracking them online. Two free exhibitions, hosted at the Beta Festival over the coming weekend, also explore the future of data privacy. www.dublininquirer.c...
November 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
A new game seeks to get Dubliners to think about who is tracking them online. Two free exhibitions, hosted at the Beta Festival over the coming weekend, also explore the future of data privacy. www.dublininquirer.c...
Reposted
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice? It has now retired its asylum chatbot Erin, but has infused Tara, the non-asylum immigration chatbot with AI. Read more here www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice?
“The public should not be used as guinea pigs, particularly vulnerable groups in a legal process which could be impacted by a chatbot giving an incorrect answer.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice? It has now retired its asylum chatbot Erin, but has infused Tara, the non-asylum immigration chatbot with AI. Read more here www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Reposted
I can’t begin to tell you how bad this chatbot is
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice? It has now retired its asylum chatbot Erin, but has infused Tara, the non-asylum immigration chatbot with AI. Read more here www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice?
“The public should not be used as guinea pigs, particularly vulnerable groups in a legal process which could be impacted by a chatbot giving an incorrect answer.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I can’t begin to tell you how bad this chatbot is
Reposted
EU governments will soon vote on whether they support the "Chat Control" bill. If passed, then every message you send will be scanned for child abuse material, even on encrypted apps like WhatsApp — undermining the privacy and security of everyone in the EU ➡️ www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-an...
ICCL and DRI welcome Justice Committee's concerns about proposed EU law which could lead to mass surveillance of private messages and emails
The proposed EU law could mandate the monitoring of virtually all public and private digital communications
www.iccl.ie
October 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
EU governments will soon vote on whether they support the "Chat Control" bill. If passed, then every message you send will be scanned for child abuse material, even on encrypted apps like WhatsApp — undermining the privacy and security of everyone in the EU ➡️ www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-an...