"The question is not only how to keep universities solvent, but how to ensure that, in ten or twenty years’ time, they are still universities."

The idea that journalists, politicians, groups or - you know, women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ people - should "stay on the pitch" doesn't really hold up. Foreign Minister's account has 60k followers - 40 likes, 13k views? Blue ticks straight to the top of the queue with misogyny, bile.

I know there is a lot going on but it has largely fallen from the headlines that Russia is using the current freezing weather in Ukraine and attacks on power and heat infrastructure to try to freeze millions of civilians, a clear crime against humanity www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...

What I should have added in this piece is that even if all of this stopped right now, that doesn't pardon any past offences already committed. Criminal prohibitions of sexual abuse and expolitation are partly aimed at deterrence - and this only works if they are enforced.

Do you like maps? These are good maps. www.geostrategy.org.uk/research/bri...

One reason I feel like I'm going mad is, even if Musk did immediately halt Grok and issue a grovelling apology - rather than PAYWALLING IT - he should *still* be prosecuted and his website banned. Very obviously! You don't get out of CSAM charges by just stopping. AND HE STILL HASN'T STOPPED.

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...

OK so now they’re consciously trying to make money from the CSAM-generating feature.

This should honestly be a legal requirement for discontinued products.

For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies

Next event: The Gavel and the Algorithm: Courts' Role in a Data-Driven World. 22-23 January 2026 at Dublin City University www.dcu.ie/deli/dcu-eve... @dublincityuni.bsky.social

Which European values will Ireland defend in 2026 EU presidency? 'When it comes to reconciling lofty ideals with gritty public policy, consistency is challenging. But the rules-based world order demands it' - DCU's @drandrewforde.bsky.social. Read in @irishexaminer.bsky.social: launch.dcu.ie/4poCxr7

Section 5(1)(f) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended) makes it a criminal offence to knowingly facilitate the production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The problem here isn't the law - it's the political willingnesss to enforce it against X.

How is it not the Government's position - as put forward by Billy Kelleher - that the European Commission hits the immediate pause button on Grok while it's waiting for all these reviews and assessments? The power is there.

There are real potential downsides to taking action against twitter. It’s owned by the richest man in the world who is buddies with the most powerful man in the world and they have both made it clear that they want regime change in Europe. But like, we are talking about industrial scale abuse here.

Perhaps he could suggest they move Grok to another parish?

Women's Aid said that it will no longer maintain a presence on X. "This online violence against women and children - especially girls - has often devastating real-life impacts and we no longer view it as appropriate to use such a platform to share our work. www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Well done @rodericogorman.bsky.social leading by example! Hopefully others will follow quickly!

I wrote a statement for FuJo on Generative AI, IBSV, Elon Musk, and the continued use of the platform by the Irish Government. fujomedia.eu/news/account... Short 🧵

Asked Enterprise Minister Peter Burke if it’s appropriate for the Govt to have a presence on a site not just hosting but creating CSAM. He said: “If it continues, it would be something I’d be hugely concerned about. This has to stop.”

We need a European conversation on critical IT infrastructure and whether it is either reasonable or acceptable to be so dependent on US platforms - as the US increasingly becomes an aggressive economic and strategic adversary. Especially tough debate in Ireland - but also all the more necessary.

Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Friends in Clare/Limerick, I've been offered a job working between Ennis & Shannon. I'm looking for somewhere to live, I'll be hoping my 15yo can join me over summer, but I could rent a room til then. If anyone has any accommodation leads please give me a shout. Shares appreciated 🙏 #Speirgorm

it is fairly amazing how clear it was, at the time, what was happening. so much chaff has been thrown into the air since then, of course, that most coverage takes a "whomst amongst us can say what happened that day?" approach (stole this image from @joshsternberg.com's post)

This is your reminder that US tech companies are really terrified by EU regulations on privacy, safety, data protection etc (& their enforcement) ... and why it's so important not to kowtow to US industry. The EU holds a lot of power in this area and wielding it is critical right now

This is *still* going on by the way and it is incredible how little attention it's getting from media, politicians and others who are usually falling over themselves to talk about AI, women's rights and/or child protection

"What we need is a transport system that supports heath. This means safe, high-quality infrastructure for walking and cycling integrated with high quality public transport that is complimented by car use when needed." Excellent article by Dr. Catherine Conlon. www.thejournal.ie/readme/road-...

If this is true, the closest comparison for the Venezuela operation isn't Iraq but Panama. In both cases, the invasion was portrayed as a police action to capture a head of state to stand trial in the US for drug trafficking...

It means absolutely nothing to anyone concerned right now but here's what the United Nations says about kidnapping Heads of State. legal.un.org/ilc/texts/in...

A note that just because the President of the United States used the word 'captured' doesn't mean news organisations should just use it without attribution... or maybe at all really?

guys, "the judges at the ICC are being sanctioned by the USA and can't access their iphones or bank accounts" and "why aren't any countries banning twitter or prosecuting elon musk for owning a site that manufactures CSAM" stories are the same story

New Guest Gist: 2026, Our already rotting future Séamas O’Reilly somehow failed to stop AI with his Gist pointing out its many many lies last year. Surely this time he will see it off? www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...

A not-so-brief summary of where we are at heading into the new year in terms of polling, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael trending down, an Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats trending up. Featuring analysis for every constituency, read below 👇 irishelectionprojections.com/2025/12/30/e...

Famously Sauron is known for never allowing his home to he penetrated by intruders.

You'll never see a professional cleaner using a Dyson, but they all love Henrys.

Dollymount sunset, St Stephen’s Day 2025

Ah here. Lads.. #speirgorm #speirghorm

My entire X timeline is anti-EU posts from people I don't follow. Even if I change it from 'for you' to 'following', it switches back to 'for you' each time I open the site. X is being weaponised against the EU. And unfortunately X is still the public square for European journalists & politicians.

I have a letter in today’s Irish Times about Ireland and the ECHR and the apparent shift in the Irish government’s position towards reform of the Convention signalled recently by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD #ECHR

Move over Bluetooth: wired headphones are back – and suddenly cool again

Our neighbours at @tcdpoliticalsci.bsky.social are hiring 3 (!) tenure-track faculty members: – Assistant Professor in Political Economy – Assistant Professor in International Politics – Assistant Professor in Political Science Deadline: 15 Jan 2026 More details: jobs.tcd.ie @tcddublin.bsky.social

Women, Peace and Security in the Age of Fragmentation LauraWise, Kasia Houghton, and Fiona Campbell discuss an SCGA Insight report following a workshop - with their colleague Salma Yusuf - supported by SCGA and PeaceRep, held at Edinburgh Law School on 02.10.2025 open.spotify.com/episode/0BBZ...

My IR department at the CEU in Vienna, Austria is hiring a security scholar. I am happy to answer questions. careers.ceu.edu/job/Vienna-A...

Building social cohesion by identifying certain groups in society, blaming them for all ills and demanding they be cast out I am very smart. Make me Taoiseach.

As an ex Erasmus student and coordinator, I'm delighted both for our @nclpolitics.bsky.social students who will benefit from more funding clarity, and for our partner universities' students, for whom a semester or year with us will be more affordable again. Good news for a change!

I read the new security strategy that Switzerland published a few days ago. It’s really quite good in my view! A 🧵 The whole strategy is available in English here www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BL...

Sanctuary Runners reject Justice Minister’s claims of a breakdown in social cohesion caused by people seeking international protection

Saying that the European Convention on Human Rights has gone too far is like saying that seat belts have gone too far. Because really, seat belts are non invasive, a minor thing, something you hardly notice. That is, of course, until things get really bad. Then you’re really glad about the seat belt

The thing about tying attacks on Jews back to Israel is that people have never needed Israel as an excuse to attack Jews If you don't understand this you don't know enough to be talking about anti-semitism and should shut the fuck up