A new Bill would give gardaí access to the CCTV of public bodies without any authorisation process. It would also allow areas with "a pattern of criminal activity" be designated Crime Prevention Zones. This is a concerning attempt to remove the safeguards which prevent inappropriate use of CCTV.

Now that the Fine Gael bill has been published...we can see it proposes to: - Allow gardai to access any CCTV operated by a public body (live access or recorded footage); - Public bodies will have to ensure their CCTV systems are technically capable of providing access to the gardaí;

As a member of the Irish Coalition for Drug Reform, ICCL will speak at an event considering what a genuinely health-centred approach to drug policy would look like, and what it requires in law, policy and practice. Join us Wed 13 May at 2pm - in person or online. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-legal-...

Unless CCTV is used proportionately, it risks becoming an unreasonable and unlawful intrusion into the data protection and privacy rights of individuals. This is why we have data protection laws – to protect us from that intrusion. Full Statement - tinyurl.com/ICCLCCTV

ICCL is hiring an Office & Operations Manger! The office is the heart of our organisation and ensuring it runs smoothly is an essential role. We are looking for someone experienced in operations, finance and governance. If that sounds like you, then apply before the deadline of 5pm on Sunday 31 May

We are looking for someone with significant experience to lead our policy team and work. This is an opportunity to shape and guide our policy output and have a direct impact on Ireland’s civil liberties and human rights landcape. Apply by 5pm on Sunday 31 May. lnkd.in/dZsQBMwJ

ICCL's @emilywilliams19.bsky.social and @illanwall.bsky.social reflect on the fuel protests and the State's response: "We must fiercely protect peaceful protest so that individuals can freely and spontaneously assemble to express discontent and demand change." www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

1/ 🔥The Liberties Media Freedom Report 2026 is hot off the press 🗞️ #MediaFreedomReport2026 key takeaways: media freedom and pluralism in the EU continued to deteriorate in 2025 — despite new EU rules meant to strengthen protections. Read the full report: link.liberties.eu/c1f12c 👇🧵

The Independent Examiner of Security Legislation recommended that legislation be passed to give "lawful access" to encrypted communications. Breaking encryption for gardaí would create vulnerabilities for others to exploit, undermining everyone's security and privacy. www.iccl.ie/news/we-cant...

ICCL is reviewing the Independent Examiner's report and will comment soon. The concerns we set out last year about the proposed new surveillance measures remain - especially giving gardaí access to encrypted messaging services, IMSI catchers and use of spyware. www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

There are just six hours left to apply for an AI Expert role with ICCL. Come work with us and help to ensure supervision and enforcement of human rights in the context of AI and automated decision-making systems. The deadline to apply is 5pm! www.iccl.ie/digital-data...

The media reports today that a new bill proposes to expand the Public Services Card's use in Irish society. Key elements of the PSC operate unlawfully. With @digitalrightsirl.bsky.social, we say that extending its use as a form of national ID compounds the legal issues. www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

A little less than a day to apply for this role: www.iccl.ie/digital-data... Have a look at the impact of our work since 2021: www.iccl.ie/tag/artifici... If you have an #AI implementation/enforcement idea that is not run-of-the-mill, you might be a good fit. Apply!

Nasc díreach a oibríonn ar fón do achainí @iccl.bsky.social maidir le haithint uathoibríoch aghaidh www.iccl.ie/I-do-not-con...

If you are concerned about the government's plans to give gardaí access to facial recognition technology, then sign our petition today and help us fight back. www.iccl.ie/facial-recog...

The Irish Times view on live facial recognition technology: "The ICCL is right to question whether the technology is necessary or proportionate. [...] The Minister for Justice must make his case that such a significant circumscription of civil liberties is truly in the public interest."

A UK trial of live facial recognition scanned thousands of people's faces travelling from Dublin to Holyhead but had no matches. How is it necessary and proportionate to indisciminately process the biometric facial data of people with no connection to wrongdoing? www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and should be protected. That right is not contingent on the popularity of views expressed. Democratic governments must demonstrate a level of tolerance for peaceful protest even if it causes disruption. www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

ICCL published the Irish Network of Legal Observers' first annual report last month, which identified emerging issues in how protests are policed. The right to peaceful protest is essential in a democracy. Your support of ICCL allows us to continue this work. www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

The right to peaceful protest is central to democracy and must be protected, but it is not absolute. In light of the ongoing fuel protests, we outline this right and consider how human rights law provides a framework for assessing potential limitations on protests. www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

“It's our position that this incremental introduction of laws conferring extraordinary powers risks entrenching a durable surveillance architecture in Irish society" - @olgacronin.bsky.social speaking to @techpolicypress.bsky.social about the government's plans. www.techpolicy.press/irelands-new...

We're recruiting an AI expert to help us ensure supervision and enforcement of human rights in the context of AI and automated decision-making systems. The deadline to apply is next Wed 15 April but we will assess applications on a rolling basis so please apply early. www.iccl.ie/digital-data...

Enforce at the @iccl.bsky.social is hiring. Full-time role. Remote in the EU. Apply early. Deadline 5pm Dublin time on 15 April 2026. www.iccl.ie/digital-data... #AI #AIPolicy #EUAIAct #DigitalRights #TechPolicy @abeba.bsky.social @rocher.lc @techpolicypress.bsky.social @leevisaari.bsky.social

"Governments in five EU member states are “consistently and intentionally” eroding the rule of law, Europe’s leading civil liberties group has warned, while democratic standards are deteriorating in six more, including historically strong democracies." Liberties #ROLReport2026 in @theguardian.com👇

Ireland’s performance in protecting the rule of law is stagnating, with persistent failures to implement key EU recommendations and concerning legislative proposals raising alarm in civil society. That's according to @liberties.eu Rule of Law report, published today. www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

📣 Next Monday we’re releasing our latest Rule of Law Report — and you’re getting an early look of the cover, designed by our talented graphic artist, Flóra. 📥 Our newsletter subscribers will be the first to access the full report and trend analyses. 👉 Sign up here link.liberties.eu/e8d69c

IHREC has been granted leave to appear as amicus curiae in a Supreme Court case relating to direct action at Shannon Airport in 2017. @ihrec.bsky.social will explore case law and legal commentary, focusing on Constitutional rights to free expression and assembly. www.irishlegal.com/articles/rig...

The ICCL already has a case in the Commercial Court against Microsoft, Ryan said, adding that is Ireland’s “first-ever class action”, under the directive. But it is legally forbidden from raising funds for the case. www.irishtimes.com/technology/2... @johnnyryan.bsky.social @iccl.bsky.social

Ireland's transposition of the EU Collective Redress Directive means that we and other organisations cannot raise money from third-party funders for collective public interest actions. ICCL has made a complaint to the European Commission about this. www.irishtimes.com/technology/2...

Response from the President of the @ec.europa.eu It would have been good if the President had provided links or citation to the evidence. www.iccl.ie/wp-content/u...

The Irish Network of Legal Observers observed 70 protests in 2025. Its first annual report identifies three emerging issues: 1️⃣ Poor Garda awareness of relevant human rights standards 2️⃣ Gardaí misusing Section 8 of the Public Order Act 3️⃣ Gardaí not wearing badge numbers www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

This afternoon I will speak at the Oireachtas Justice Committee. I will share new information obtained by ICCL about the latest Data Protection Commissioner recruitment process, in which a former Meta spokesperson was appointed Ireland's new Data Protection Commissioner. www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

A Tennessee grandmother spent nearly six months in jail after she was identified by police using facial recognition tech as a suspect in a North Dakota bank fraud case. Angela Lipps says she had never been to North Dakota and did not commit the crimes. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

The location of the remains of almost 900 women and children who died in Bessborough is unknown. Instead of facilitating the building of 140 apartments on the site, the State should put in place a framework for exhumations and for a site of conscience at Bessborough. www.iccl.ie/news/bessbor...

We have come together with global colleagues to express our deep concern at the illegal rendition of @open-society.bsky.social Brian Kagoro by Kenyan authorities. This follows the July 2025 illegal rendition of our friend Martin Mavenjina of Kenya Human Rights Commission. inclo.net/latest/updat...

With @cajni.bsky.social @amnestyni.bsky.social @rfjustice.bsky.social @finucanecentre.bsky.social @pilsni.bsky.social and others, we wrote to Minister McEntee urging the government to defend the ECHR, rather than colluding with agendas that seek to undermine it. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

@mariamurphy.bsky.social and I have written a short report on protecting the ‘Privacy’ in Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) www.iccl.ie/news/new-icc... @iccl.bsky.social @maynoothuniversity.ie

“Irish citizens and residents are having their biometric data processed without them having done anything to raise suspicion ... simply for getting on a ferry.” - @olgacronin.bsky.social on live facial recognition scanning of thousands of travellers at Holyhead. www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Yesterday, two Oireachtas committees discussed giving gardai the power to use AI to single us out from a crowd on CCTV based on our face, gait and body size. ICCL’s @olgacronin.bsky.social sets out the concerns we have, the lack of detail and what “biometric analysis” means under the #AIAct.

I was on Newstalk Daily to discuss social media on trial and the leaked concepts of a plan for age restrictions here in Ireland. Great to also have @iccl.bsky.social's Olga Cronin giving helpful background on the shaky foundations this is likely being built on. www.newstalk.com/podcasts/new...

We were honoured to welcome Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly, to an event last night marking ICCL’s 50th anniversary. In her opening address, she reflected on the threats to democracy and human rights, and reaffirmed the enduring importance of rights, liberties and all who defend them.

Last night, President Connolly addressed the 50th anniversary of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Read the President’s speech at president.ie/en/media-lib... 📸 Andrew Watchorn

One for the cybersecurity nerds: the pre-legislative report for the Irish National Cyber Security Bill 2024 is out, and recommends major changes to the draconian powers proposed for the National Cyber Security Centre. Featuring lots of input from @digitalrightsirl.bsky.social + @iccl.bsky.social.

This morning, the @dpcireland.bsky.social announced that it has opened an own-volition inquiry into X Internet Unlimited Company (XIUC) concerning the Grok AI "nudification" scandal. www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

We’re delighted to invite you to Bringing Human Rights to Life on Screen: An ICCL panel discussion at Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF)! 🗓️ Sunday 22 February, 11am - 12pm 📍 Haymarket House, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07CF98 🎟️Tickets cost €7 and are available here ➡️ www.diff.ie/programme/ic...

Have you, or someone you know, been arrested at a peaceful protest in Ireland? @iccl.bsky.social 's survey seeking to gather information about the experiences of arrests at protest remains open: lnkd.in/d9HpTSAz #SpeirGorm

ICCL Surveillance and Human Rights Senior Policy Officer, Olga Cronin, and ICCL Enforce Senior Fellow, Dr Kris Shrishak, make the case against the government's digital wallet proposal for the Irish Examiner ⬇️ www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

I analysed the DoJ’s immigration chatbot for @iccl.bsky.social and the amount of seriously wrong information it gave was shocking even to me. The idea that people fleeing persecution would be expected to rely on a chatbot in lieu of actual legal advice is 😱😱😱 www.dublininquirer.com/chatbots-con...

This is a huge win for @iccl.bsky.social whose @johnnyryan.bsky.social has been arguing for recommender systems to face scrutiny for some time now.