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.

A spark of action from the European Commission on social media recommender algorithms at long last ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Amid attacks from the right on “NGOs”, trust in Ireland’s charities has been declining. Scandals in some charities have also harmed the reputation of the sector as a whole, which is unfair, people working for other nonprofits say. More here: www.dublininquirer.com/amid-attacks...

ICCL Senior Policy Officer, Olga Cronin, appeared on RTÉ today to discuss our very serious concerns with the Justice Minister's proposal to give Gardaí profoundly intrusive surveillance powers, which include the use of covert software to intercept digital communications ➡️ www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

ICCL has written to the Seanad ahead of today's debate on the Mental Health Bill 2024. In partnership with Mental Health Reform, ICCL welcomes some of the proposed amendments -- but the Bill as currently drafted still fails to protect human rights in several key areas ➡️ www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-wr...

Our colleagues at the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO) invite you to the launch of "Fighting for Our Lives: Pathways to Abortion Rights Globally". 📆 Thursday, 22 January 🕑 1:00 PM UTC 📍 Online Register here ➡️ us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

As the inquest into the death of George Nkencho gets underway this week, we stand in solidarity with his family as they continue their campaign for truth, accountability and justice. www.thejournal.ie/george-nkenc...

Today, ICCL and @tjmcintyre.com published a new analysis of the investigatory powers of An Garda Síochána, Coimisiún na Meán, the EU Commission and the Data Protection Commission ➡️ www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

As of today, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties will no longer be posting or monitoring our account on X 👇

I write in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social about the laws that are broken when online AI platforms facilitate the production of child sex abuse material. No new laws are needed. Companies (and their executives) are accountable as well as users. www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Things stepping up. ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland have written to the Garda Commissioner calling for an urgent investigation of X.

ICCL and Digital Rights Ireland are calling on An Garda Siochana to investigate X under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1988, after its Grok AI chatbot generated non-consensual and sexualised deepfake images of children and women. Read more ➡️ www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

📢 Want to stay up to date with the latest news and developments in human rights? 📧 Join ICCL's email list so you can be the first to hear about our latest events, career opportunities, free resources and campaigns 👉 iccl.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

📢 Want to stay up to date with the latest news and developments in human rights? 📧 Join ICCL's email list so you can be the first to hear about our latest events, career opportunities, free resources and campaigns 👉 iccl.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

Give a gift that matters this #Christmas 🎁 An ICCL gift membership supports our vital work in the areas of justice, equality, democratic freedoms and digital rights — a small gift with a big impact! Learn more 👉 www.iccl.ie/members/

Our letter in today's @irishtimes.com calling for transparency and public consultation on changes to Irish policing. www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...

Reporting by @thejournal.ie has consistently highlighted this issue. Trans and non-binary people should be in a position to access general health care and gender-affirming services with no differential treatment. www.thejournal.ie/free-hrt-sch...

📢 Want to stay up to date with the latest news and developments in human rights? 📧 Join ICCL's email list so you can be the first to hear about our latest events, career opportunities, free resources and campaigns 👉 iccl.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

This afternoon in the Dáil's last hours before it breaks for Christmas, the government will present new draft legislation which would give gardaí access to AI-powered surveillance. Our colleague @olgacronin.bsky.social lays out our many concerns about this legislation.

Today 128 guards in Dublin and Waterford will be armed with tasers - a fundamental shift in Irish policing without any public consultation. ICCL is deeply concerned at the speed with which tasers have been introduced and An Garda's approach to "piloting" new tech. www.iccl.ie/news/taser-p...

Give a gift that matters this #Christmas 🎁 An ICCL gift membership supports our vital work in the areas of justice, equality, democratic freedoms and digital rights — a small gift with a big impact! Learn more 👉 www.iccl.ie/members/

Want to stay up to date with the latest news and developments in human rights? Join ICCL's email list so you can be the first to hear about our latest events, career opportunities, free resources and campaigns ➡️ iccl.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

ICCL, in collaboration with ShoutOut and Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), published Ireland's first-ever comprehensive "Know Your Rights" guide for trans and non-binary people yesterday. Learn more and download the full guide ➡️ www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-pu...

ZINE WORKSHOP! tinyurl.com/3fny7rzc To conclude our 2025 Legal Eagles programme,TY students from Mercy College Coolock received legal lessons on Garda Powers (Stop & Searches),facilitated by @iccl.bsky.social l.bsky.social; and on Consent, Sex & the Law, by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

A new “know your rights” guide for trans and non-binary people has been published by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), in collaboration with ShoutOut and Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI). @iccl.bsky.social‬

ICCL Executive Director, Joe O'Brien, will appear on @news.rte.ie this evening to discuss our concerns about the plans to equip frontline Gardaí with tasers. Learn more ➡️ www.rte.ie/news/2025/12...

Thanks to everyone who joined our #FORSEE workshop in Dublin with @iccl.bsky.social and @adaptcentre.bsky.social, focusing on gender and LGBTQ+ concerns related to AI. Grateful to hear from Dr @abeba.bsky.social, a global expert on AI impact! #AIGovernance #DigitalPolicy #CivilSociety #AI

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)

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...

ICCL is saddened to hear of the passing of Margaretta D’Arcy. A fearless artist and activist for peace and human rights, may she rest in peace. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

You can read a selection of my criticisms of the chatbot’s replies (I emphasise, merely a selection) here