Women's Aid, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) have called for action to be taken to address the sale of smartphone location data by brokers in the #AdTech industry ➡️ www.rte.ie/news/primeti...

Important question in the Dail today after the RTE Prime Time expose on the sale of data about people's locations @ivanabacik.bsky.social asks @simonharrisireland.bsky.social After 8 years of inaction on Real-Time Bidding, how can you continue to have confidence in the Data Protection Commission?

The DPC announced its findings against the Dept of Social Protection and its use of facial recognition technology as part of the registration process, called SAFE 2, for the Public Services Card (PSC), in July. It published the decision yesterday afternoon

Excellent op-ed by @brianhonan.bsky.social on the dangers of Chat Control On your point about how these error prone scanning tools drag innocent people into the frame for heinous crimes, we @iccl.bsky.social and DRI previously published figures demonstrating this issue www.iccl.ie/news/an-gard...

ICCL Enforce Senior Fellow, @krisshrishak.bsky.social, recently signed a joint statement of scientists and researchers who are pushing back against the EU Presidency’s most recent "Chat Control" proposal. Read the full letter to learn more ➡️ csa-scientist-open-letter.org/Sep2025

ICCL strongly condemns the sanctions imposed by the US government on our colleagues @alhaq.bsky.social, as well as @almezan.bsky.social and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. We stand in full solidarity with them against these unjust, punitive measures. www.alhaq.org/advocacy/266...

ICCL welcomes the launch of the ‘National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030’ three years after its predecessor (the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022) expired.

ICCL welcomes the news that the Central Bank of Ireland will no longer authorise the sale of Israeli State bonds, or "war bonds".

We stand in solidarity with Kitty O'Brien, the Irish activist who was recently assaulted by police at a peaceful pro-Palestine demonstration in Berlin. ICCL is deeply concerned by the global increase in limitations on the right to protest, particularly in relation to Palestine.

ICCL welcomes reports indicating that the UK government has withdrawn its demand for Apple to build a "backdoor" into its encrypted cloud service ➡️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The irony is that the position the Government is taking (that competing privacy rights and rights to collective security have to be balanced to ensure each is given proportional weight) has been exactly tested in the CJEU and the top court found that it was *a disproportionate* action.

This latest madcap Internet plan from the Irish Govt will have EU-wide consequences as many of the most critical encrypted messaging systems companies are based here. Use Apple’s iMessage or Meta’s WhatsApp in the EU? You should be contacting your Govt and getting them to object to Ireland’s plan.

Forcing encrypted messaging services to create "backdoor" access pathways for Gardaí would undermine the security of all service users, as well as our fundamental rights to #privacy and data protection, warns ICCL Senior Policy Officer, Olga Cronin ➡️ shorturl.at/kw8sE

The Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee has made a unanimous and unequivocal recommendation that the #OTB be extended to include a ban on trade in services from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. #PassTheOTB #FreePalestine #GazaGenocide

It is crucial to our democracy that protest is facilitated and that our rights to assemble and express our opinions are protected. As we witness genocide unfold in Gaza, ICCL calls on the Garda Commissioner, policing oversight bodies and Minister for Justice to ensure that these rights are upheld.

ICCL is deeply concerned by the proposal in the Communications (Interception and Lawful Access) Bill to allow for the interception of encrypted messages for law enforcement access (1) ➡️ www.irishlegal.com/articles/pla...

ICCL welcomes the establishment of a commission of investigation into historic sexual abuse in schools ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...

Austria's largest data protection organisation, @epicenterworks.bsky.social, has filed a formal complaint with the local data protection authority over the police use of facial recognition technology (#FRT) during a climate demonstration in Vienna. (1)

@iccl.bsky.social urges the Irish government to urgently designate the regulators to enforce AI Act prohibitions. EU AI Act prohibitions, applied since 2 Feb, will be enforceable in less than a month. But there is still no clarity on who the regulators will be. www.iccl.ie/news/ireland...

This evening TDs will debate a bill that would remove the right to a jury trial in defamation cases and leave the decision to a judge alone. ICCL believes that this would be a mistake. We urge TDs to retain jury trials for defamation cases. Read our full submission: www.iccl.ie/resources/su...

We're hiring! If you have: ✅ an advanced academic qualification in law or a related field ✅ a passion for human rights Then join us to work on criminal justice reform and procedural rights, and provide legal support across ICCL’s work. Apply by 9am on Mon 7 July. www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-is...

Our colleague @olgacronin.bsky.social responds to the new US policy of vetting people's social media accounts as part of its visa application process.

In the wake of the death of Evan Fitzgerald and revelations about Garda involvement in his case, ICCL has written to Minister Jim O'Callaghan urging him to legislate to regulate the use of covert human intelligence sources, including undercover gardaí. www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

This week, ICCL is taking part in the eighth review of the State under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Together with our civil society colleagues, yesterday we briefed the CEDAW Committee to inform today's dialogue with the State.

Yikes story with a decent resolution

In December 2023, @shamimmalekmian.bsky.social @dublininquirer.com wrote about an English language school in Dublin using a biometric system and app to scan students’ fingerprints and faces to track their attendance. A student reported there was often no alternative to using the biometric system.

Happy to learn that @iccl.bsky.social had raised concerns to Data Protection Commission about problems with an English language school's use of biometric clock-in system, following on our reporting on it in late 2023. DPC's intervention brought a withdrawal option & alternative methods for students.

Together with our partners, we urge all #EU Member States & the @ec.europa.eu to: ❌halt arms transfers ❌sanction those responsible for ongoing atrocity crimes ❌suspend the trade agreement with Israel Under the Genocide Convention, EU states are bound to act. Learn more: bit.ly/4eapcyB

ICCL, alongside 100+ human rights and humanitarian organisations and trade unions, are today urging the EU to ensure that the ongoing review of Israel’s compliance with article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement be thorough, comprehensive and credible. @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

We're hiring! If you have: ✅ an advanced academic qualification in law or a related field ✅ a passion for human rights Then join us to work on criminal justice reform and procedural rights, and provide legal support across ICCL’s work. Apply by 9am on Mon 7 July. www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-is...

Today, the Data Protection Commission found that the Department of Employment and Social Protection (DEASP)'s collection of facial records for the Public Services Card was unlawful. This means that the DEASP unlawfully collected biometric data from 70% of Ireland's population over 15 years (1)

The revelations yesterday about Garda involvement with Evan Fitzgerald are deeply concerning and demonstrate the need for a robust framework to authorise and regulate covert policing, and for independent oversight.

Great piece by @shamimmalekmian.bsky.social about the dangers of FRT. Folks who are concerned - please consider signing @iccl.bsky.social's petition against the introduction of this dangerous and discriminatory tech to Irish policing www.iccl.ie/i-do-not-con...

While ICCL welcomes the news that the Minister for Justice intends to repeal the Offences Against the State Acts, we are deeply concerned at the government’s plans to retain a permanent non-jury court. Read our full statement ➡️ www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-st...

Yesterday’s State apology marked a profoundly significant moment for the family of Shane O'Farrell, who was killed in a hit-and-run in 2011. (1)

Today, in the first action of its kind in Ireland, ICCL will apply to the High Court to launch a class action lawsuit against Microsoft. This case will target the “Real-Time Bidding” (RTB) data breach within Microsoft’s advertising system ➡️ www.independent.ie/business/tec...

ICCL is deeply concerned by the government's plan to criminalise the wearing of face coverings. Read our full statement below⬇️

The Minister for Justice has announced that legislation to allow for dangerous and discriminatory facial recognition technology (FRT) is “well advanced” and will be introduced during the lifetime of the Government ➡️ www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

ICCL has long advocated for reform of Irish defamation law. While we mostly welcome the news that the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 could be passed by this summer, the proposal to abolish juries in defamation cases remains a concern ➡️ www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

Mothers Against Genocide statement on Gardaí and Minister for Justice attempts to discredit us. We will not be silenced or deterred from raising the issue of Government inaction on Palestine. #FreePalestine #RightToProtest

ICCL, in partnership with the Committee on the Administration of Justice, invites you to our 2nd annual policing conference, “Policing of Far-Right Intimidation in the Republic of Ireland”. 📅 Monday, 19 May 🕓 10am to 5pm 📍 Richmond Event Centre, Dublin 7 Learn more and register ➡️ lnkd.in/e9YtfCP9

In @theguardian.com, Dr Johnny Ryan, Director of ICCL Enforce, warns that Big Tech's toxic algorithms are undermining democracy and propping up authoritarians across Europe. Ireland must enforce European data law and shut these algorithms off. Read more ➡️ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Last year @europarl.europa.eu Archive unit head appeared in promo videos for Anthropic when EP began using #Anthropic's #AI model @iccl.bsky.social Enforce investigated There are no contracts. No impact assessment. Blind faith in Constitutional AI and #Amazon lock-in www.iccl.ie/press-releas...

ICCL broadly welcomes the long-awaited commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, although shortcomings and gaps in the legislation remain. Read our full statement ➡️ www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-st...

ICCL is deeply concerned by these reports of the use of invasive strip and cavity searches following a peaceful vigil held by @mothersagainstg.bsky.social.

ICCL welcomes today’s publication of @inarireland.bsky.social's report on racial profiling and discrimination by An Garda Síochána. Read our full statement below.

We recently joined LGBTI+ organisations, activists and allies to protest Hungary’s new law banning #Pride. ICCL Equality Senior Policy Officer, Luna Liboni, explains why this attack on LGBTI+ rights is also an attack on European democracy itself ➡️ gcn.ie/dublin-prote...

Hearing disturbing news about the harassment of CSO KontraS, reportedly linked to its advocacy against recent legislative reform expanding the military’s role in domestic affairs. #Indonesia must ensure that civil society & HRDs can voice their legitimate concerns without restriction.

ICCL Senior Policy Officer, Olga Cronin, urges the Government to reconsider the introduction of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) following a chilling rollback of civil liberties in Hungary. Read her full analysis here ➡️ www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

We welcome the news that the Minister for Justice is considering a public inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell. His family has been campaigning tirelessly since 2011 for justice and accountability. The Government must not fail Shane and his family, again. extra.ie/2025/03/21/n...