Ciarán O'Connor
@ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
4.5K followers 840 following 35 posts
Research & investigations at @isdglobal.bsky.social looking at technology, extremism & disinformation. Via Storyful, University of Amsterdam & Dublin City University. Liúdramán-at-large. Contact: DM me or email [email protected] #osint
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ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
Why did it take so long for these “malicious smears”, as Gavin characterised them, to be addressed?

Smears, recommender systems, AI; it's been quite the two weeks in the presidential election. And the campaign has just begun. Wrote about this for @irishtimes.com.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Ciarán O'Connor: Jim Gavin won’t be the last victim of a smear campaign. What will it take for platforms to act?
Allegations about the presidential candidate received thousands of comments and nearly a million views, as platforms did little to stop the spread
www.irishtimes.com
ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
New episode of our podcast is out, this time discussing the AI bubble, overinflation & valuations and dot-com comparisons.
donalmulligan.com
On this quarter's @enoughaboutai.com episode, @ciaranoconnor.bsky.social and I are talking about the #AI bubble, and the consequences for jobs whether it pops or not. As well as ChatGPT5, bad graphs, third devices, and whatever a "non-woke" chatbot might be.
ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
Ciarán O’Connor: The Epstein files have become a purity test for MAGA diehards and, unable to substantiate the claims they campaigned on for years, these political figures have found themselves cast as the villains they once promised to oust.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Ciarán O’Connor: Donald Trump is in danger of being swallowed up by an Epstein conspiracy he helped to create
Trump is learning that conspiracy theories are elastic, self-sealing and practically impossible to disprove to a base radicalised over time
www.irishtimes.com
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
elaineburke.bsky.social
I'm going back to the Galway International Arts Festival once again for another fascinating tech-focused conversation, this time chatting to @ciaranoconnor.bsky.social and Cian O'Mahony about conspiracy theories!

Dress code: Tinfoil hats optional.

www.giaf.ie/festival/eve...
Conspiracy Theories | Galway International Arts Festival
Endless conspiracy theories flood our phones in conversation with Saoirse McHugh every day, straining credulity, but with an increasing number of enthusiastic followers.
www.giaf.ie
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
enoughaboutai.com
New episode of the Enough About AI podcast with @donalmulligan.com & @ciaranoconnor.bsky.social is out now, discussing alignment, AI being "too sycophant-y" and the risk of letting superintelligence out of the box.

Available on all pod platforms & our site: podcast.enoughaboutai.com/2421061/epis...
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
dublincityuni.bsky.social
DCU's Dr Dónal Mulligan @donalmulligan.com and Ciarán O'Connor @ciaranoconnor.bsky.social discuss key issues related to AI and academia in the latest episode of their podcast 'Enough About AI'. You can listen to the full episode here: launch.dcu.ie/3YHqlHk
ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
Quite an interesting story going on in Derry. Would really like to hear more from anyone in contact with this group.

*****
Illicit masses in Derry. The Bishop has issued a warning about services held by fundamentalist group SSPX Resistance. Via @drivetime.bsky.social

www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Illicit masses being held in Derry
Illicit masses are being held in Derry where priests are administering the sacraments without the authority of the Catholic Church. The Bishop of Derry has issued a warning about the services carried ...
www.rte.ie
ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
A new year and a new season of our Enough About AI pod.

This episode takes stock of everything that's happened since November including: Trump, Musk and OpenAi; China and Deepseek; and a runthrough of reasoning models.

Available on all the usual platforms.
enoughaboutai.com
Hello, we're back! @donalmulligan.com & @ciaranoconnor.bsky.social start a new season for 2025 with a slight change in format to give you roughly quarterly updates on the big themes and topics in #AI.

This new ep gives a summary of what's happened since last November & answer some of your questions
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
“During COVID … there was a subsection of those interested in wellness who saw it as the "ultimate truth” and their own thinking overlapped with conspiracy theories."

I spoke to Brendan O’Connor about 'conspirituality' on @rteradio1.bsky.social on Feb 8th.

www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
www.rte.ie
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
mathiasced.bsky.social
"A supposedly UK-based network of Telegram channels is hoping to spark civil war in Britain – but the operation appears to be run from Russia.

HOPE not hate can reveal that a network of Telegram channels is offering cash to UK citizens willing to commit acts of terror and vandalism"
ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
“We know that the architecture of platforms makes it astonishingly easy for sensationalist allegations to go viral – enragement sadly equals engagement – and platforms often prioritise user attention over accuracy.”
factcheck.thejournal.ie
Yesterday's attack in Stoneybatter provided the latest opportunity for racist social media users and fake news outlets, who routinely pounce on any report of a violent incident in Ireland, to spread unfounded claims before the full details have emerged.
jrnl.ie/6618886
How far-right agitators exploited an information vacuum after the Stoneybatter attack
It has become a predictable pattern on X in recent years.
jrnl.ie
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
petergeoghegan.bsky.social
What happened when two Northern Irish journalists reported on a loyalist massacre? They were arrested and spied on by police

Plus: Two former Tory ministers and ex chief whip break government anti corruption rules

All new on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/the-police...
The police broke the law to spy on journalists - and that should worry us all
A landmark judgment has found that forces across the UK illegally tried to discover journalists’ sources—now we need the full story
democracyforsale.substack.com
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
shamimmalekmian.bsky.social
Mick O'Keeffe has the same issue Chay Bowes has, except that the former is talking to Americans and the latter to Russians. Both have to say shit like "speaker", "Irish Prime Minister", "The Irish Parliament" etc.
A screenshot of Mick O'Keffee's tweet celebrating Verona Murphy's Ceann Comhairle appointment but translating what that means in parentheses.
ciaranoconnor.bsky.social
Why did the far right and anti-immigration parties fail to make a breakthrough in the General Election? I went on @johnmooneyirl.bsky.social's Dark State podcast and tease out some potential explanations.

www.patreon.com/posts/why-fa...
Why the Far Right Stumbled in Ireland’s Election | The Dark State
Get more from The Dark State on Patreon
www.patreon.com
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
lexluddy.xyz
REPORT: Over the last eight months I've been trying to get to the bottom of why (despite being the ideal candidate) Ireland is not a video game development hub. The answer?

A lack of government understanding surrounding the sector.

For Shacknews:
www.shacknews.com/article/1424...
Ireland is primed to be a video game development hub, so why hasn't it broken big?
Ireland is home to a well-educated, English-speaking, diverse workforce and is already the tech hub of Europe. So why hasn't it truly penetrated the video game industry?
www.shacknews.com
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
irishtimes.com
X is taking legal action against Coimisiún na Meán in the High Court in Dublin.

As the European home of some of the major tech players, the State has a crucial role in an area where tensions are likely with the US.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
The Irish Times view on social media regulation: Ireland caught in the middle
As the European home of some of the major tech players, the State has a crucial role in an area where tensions are likely with the US
www.irishtimes.com
Reposted by Ciarán O'Connor
isdglobal.org
Katherine Keneally joins Sky News’ Daily Podcast to break down the social media reactions to the murder of Brian Thompson that has ignited debates about the state of healthcare in the United States. ow.ly/2HG150UsIKX
How Luigi Mangione ignited the internet
<a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sky-news-daily/id951048357' target='_blank'>👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈</a>
ow.ly