"It’s easy to see that politicians get rattled by moments of increased racist rhetoric which is amplified online. They react out of fear and some could argue cowardice..all evidence points to these actions facilitating their own cannibalisation by far-right parties."

New report out from us & the Hope and Courage Collective today, looking at online threats to electoral integrity in the recent Irish presidential election. In the report: 🔵 Online narratives targeting the legitimacy of election 🔵 The targeting of candidates 🔵 The use of genAI Read more below ⬇️

Paul Nolan has finally been jailed. He has spent the last 18 months harassing and intimidating asylum seekers and posting evidence of his crimes online under his own name. Glad to see this happen but unsure why it took so long. jrnl.ie/6827359

Fucking disgusting. Throwing the most vulnerable people under the bus to dodge taking any sort of real action on housing. the place is overrun with empty and derelict homes and landlords are outbidding everybody and this loser minister targeting social housing www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-n...

"Visitors stage anti-migrant march in Galway" Other journalists should take notes on reporting from Maxim Kelly. www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...

Had a great chat with @drmarkjacobson.bsky.social and Jim Ludes for their Active Measures Newsletter podcast about recent developments in anti-migrant activity, both in the Republic and the north of Ireland. Give it a listen here: omny.fm/shows/active...

On this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and I are joined by @aoifegall.bsky.social of @isdglobal.org for a conversation about recent online incitement against migrants in Ireland manifesting in real-world violence #disinformation #Ireland #propaganda. omny.fm/shows/active...

Anti-migrant narratives are uniting longstanding foes on both sides of the Irish border, while far-right actors from overseas are seizing on the opportunity to spread dissent and polarisation 👇 www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

New from my colleague @disinfozo.bsky.social at @isdglobal.org examining the emerging alliances between Irish far-right groups (so called "nationalists") south of the border with Northern Irish loyalists and the British far-right: www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

Research from us looking at how social media platforms once again failed to take action on content inciting violence in Northern Ireland last week

I, for one, think this is gas. www.thejournal.ie/child-of-dra...

A rise in violent attacks—from US school shootings to stabbings in Sweden—resembles terrorism or extremist violence, but it isn’t actually driven by any ideology. ISD’s new Investigation explores the rise of nihilistic violence and the online communities fueling it. www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

Worth reminding people that our 2023 landscape mapping of the Irish mis/disinfo ecosystem found that Gript is (by far) the outlet of choice for conspiracy theorists, racists and science deniers. Do you think this is because they uphold the standards & ethics of journalism? (Spoiler:it is not)

A survey-anyone site ranks cities. A gambling site uses that output directly in a press release. Media pick up the release, run headlines like 'Dublin among most dangerous cities in Europe.' Twitter users add their spice - it ends up in the White House. 2025 infocycle. www.rte.ie/news/primeti...

ISD’s latest Dispatch tackles the various ideologies, groups and figures found in contemporary Israeli far-right extremism. ow.ly/Y0RR50UEnT5

A worthwhile reminder that the far right does not need political support to cause damage. Campaigns of harassment, intimidation and violence will continue to take place long after the dust from this election has settled.

ICYMI: We released a joint investigation with the Hope and Courage Collective documenting 55 incidents of political violence, harassment, intimidation and threats during the GE campaign across a spectrum of activity. @ciaranoconnor.bsky.social @isdglobal.bsky.social www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

We've released a joint report with the Hope & Courage Collective that documented over 50 incidents of harassment, threats and abuse against candidates & canvassers during the #GeneralElection2024 #ge24 campaign. | @isdglobal.bsky.social www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp... Some top lines ⬇️

The lesson from the election should not be ignoring the threat of extremism because it's still widely unpopular but to continue to fight for unity in our communities to minimise it even further. Though, I'm not holding my breath for op-ed writers to see it that way.

With rhetoric mirroring the US “Stop the Steal” movement, claims of election fraud in Ireland’s local & European elections gained millions of views. ISD’s new report analyses the trends and how they may affect Ireland’s upcoming general election. ow.ly/Nc0c50UfOiv

Who’s behind a website and social media accounts ratcheting up support for anti-immigration candidates standing in Ireland? Read more here: dublininquirer.com/2024/11/27/w...

TikTok approved ads containing harmful disinformation and voter suppression messages relating to the Irish general election, according to an investigation by campaign group Global Witness www.businesspost.ie/news/tiktok-...

With so many far-right candidates running, ‘rigged election’ conspiracy theories v. likely (eg. ‘illegals’ voting illegally; missing ballot boxes at counts) Crucial for media to find & rebut claims as lies *before* they go viral • robustly • concisely • swiftly #GE24

"The use of generative AI surged among the country’s emergent far-right movement after riots in Dublin in 2023." We shared some research w/@theguardian.com about the use of GenAI among FR entities in Ireland. | @isdglobal.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

New report by the smart people at ISD finds echoes of “stop the steal” before the the June euro and local elections in conspiratorial chatter about “voter harvesting”, “foreign interference”, and “polling station irregularities” www.isdglobal.org/isd-publicat...

New research released by us today at @isdglobal.bsky.social reveals how false election interference claims in the June 2024 local and European elections in Ireland echo global conspiracy theories, threatening trust ahead of this week’s general election. www.isdglobal.org/isd-publicat...

Extremists have been emboldened by a lack of action from online platforms and the State. Last year’s riots were a wake up call – why are those in charge still asleep at the wheel? I wrote about the anniversary of the Dublin riots for @irishtimes.bsky.social. www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...

⚠️ Hurricane Helene content boosts antisemitic hate, climate disinfo and conspiracies ⚠️ We found 33 posts with claims debunked by the US government had generated more than 160m views on X. 30% of those contained overt antisemitic hate. 🧵 @isdglobal.bsky.social www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

ISD's @aoifegall.bsky.social documented dozens of incidents of far-right online users spreading disinformation to link migrants to crimes in Ireland, often for 'clout'. She talks to the Irish Mail on Sunday about how this has escalated since the 2023 Dublin riots. www.isdglobal.org/isd-in-the-n...

Today at @isdglobal.bsky.social we released a report documenting 61 incidents of anti-migrant violence, intimidation or harassment in Ireland over a three and a half month period. www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

The Sky News piece on the international input in Irish anti-immigrant Twitter has certainly caught people’s attention, but here’s why you shouldn’t read too much into it. (PS: I’m not over on the hellsite anymore, so realise the reach of this will be crap. Please repost it there if you so wish)

The Sky News piece on the international input in Irish anti-immigrant Twitter has certainly caught people’s attention, but here’s why you shouldn’t read too much into it. (PS: I’m not over on the hellsite anymore, so realise the reach of this will be crap. Please repost it there if you so wish)

Those willing to engage in violence/intimidation "will become more emboldened & continue to act w/ impunity,” said @aoifegall.bsky.social to the @irishexaminer.bsky.social after a group of masked people in Ireland defaced a politician's home with little pushback despite police presence.

"Mr Gomes dos Santos told The Irish Times he was near the entrance to his home when the man addressing his brother asked, “Where are you from?” and when he said, “Brazil,” within seconds, the assailant hit him above his left eye." www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Interested in protecting democracy and pushing back against the rise of extremism in Ireland? Have skills in online investigations/data analysis and knowledge of the Irish landscape? Come work with us! isdglobal.recruitee.com/o/digital-re...

ICYMI: "This man is known to gardaí, having been investigated for drug-related offences in the past. He is also known for posting anti-immigration and far-right rhetoric online." www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...

Interested in protecting democracy and pushing back against the rise of extremism in Ireland? Have skills in online investigations/data analysis and knowledge of the Irish landscape? Come work with us! isdglobal.recruitee.com/o/digital-re...

Depressing/essential reading. www.rte.ie/news/primeti...

Great piece by DCU's Eileen Culloty on the potential impact of deepfakes on elections around the world this year. theconversation.com/deepfakes-ar...

Great report here from Channel 4 on the Irish far-right, their role in the anti-immigrant movement and the reality of life here for asylum seekers. More of this please (from Irish media) www.channel4.com/news/ireland...

🚨NEW RESEARCH KLAXON!🚨 The latest piece from @isdgermany.bsky.social explores how German farmers' protests are being co-opted and shaped by the international far-right. DE version also available on our website! Email [email protected] for further info. www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

'Woods, whose real name is Keith O’Brien, is an Irish white nationalist who reportedly described himself as a “raging antisemite"...and has reportedly been “a frequent guest on white nationalist Richard Spencer’s livestreams.' www.mediamatters.org/google/youtu...

"A 61-year-old man charged in connection with an arson attack on a Luas on the night of the Dublin Riots is an activist with the Far Right ‘National Party.’" m.sundayworld.com/crime/courts...

"Ireland has more in common with other colonised countries than it does with imperialist ones. Their inclusion within the hierarchy of race as “white” means Irish people can be manipulated emotively to believe that Irishness & whiteness are the same thing." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Shocked to discover that claims Roscrea can’t accept asylum seekers because schools are full was bullshit and, In fact, it’s migrant kids that’s keeping one school open www.rte.ie/news/2024/01...

"Once more, fire has become the language of choice for some in this country who believe they’re revolting against a new tyranny, though this perceived uprising is one suffused with hate, racism and reactionary nativism." By @ciaranoconnor.bsky.social www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Another fire (not yet being called arson) at a building housing asylum seekers, this time in Buncrana (I count 3 in Buncrana now since last May). A number of people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024...

"What’s striking..is just how brazen and open this incitement [is]. There are no coded messages, no nods or winks. The line is clear: since Jews “chose the path of destruction” by refusing to become Christians, Ireland must play its part in that destruction." www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...

"In criticising the Government’s immigration policy, McGregor has..call[ed] for the deportation of..any immigrant convicted of a crime. McGregor himself is no stranger to committing crimes in Ireland or abroad." Good round up on McGregor in TheJournal.ie . www.thejournal.ie/conor-mcgreg...