“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👇
The EU report is also critical of the European Commission’s Rule of Law Cycle for failing to achieve its stated aim of promoting the rule of law.
It finds that Member States are largely failing to actively engage with annual recommendations from the Commission and to commit to tangible action.
The report forms part of an EU-wide analysis of 22 countries published by @liberties.eu which confirms an ongoing deterioration in the rule of law across Europe.
Five countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia – are found to be consistently and internationally weakening rule of law.
Plans to curtail access to judicial review risk fundamentally weakening access to justice and limiting the ability of individuals and communities to hold the State to account.
These proposals, alongside measures that may erode journalistic protections, signal a troubling direction of travel.
For the second consecutive year, Ireland has been categorised as a rule of law ‘stagnator’.
This reflects an absence of meaningful legislative or structural reform across core rule of law areas, including the justice system, anti-corruption, media freedom and institutional checks and balances.
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...
3️⃣ Badge numbers
Gardaí not wearing badge numbers is a recurring issue identified by legal observers.
Gardaí not wearing badge numbers hinders accountability and prevents protesters from being exercising their right to complain to Fiosrú about inappropriate Garda behaviour and possible misconduct.
2️⃣ Section 8 misuse
Legal observers have documented gardaí using Section 8 to arrest peaceful protesters without allowing them enough time to leave the area.
Section 8 powers should only be used when gardaí reasonably believe a public order offence is about to be committed.
1️⃣ Awareness of relevant human rights standards
Statements by An Garda Síochána in relation to incidents highlighted by the Network point to an ongoing misunderstanding on the part of An Garda of international human rights law standards on the use of force.
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...
Protecting human rights defenders is essential to safeguarding civic space and the rule of law.
We join our friends in the Kenya Human Rights Commission in condemning this action and stand in solidarity with Kenyan civil society.
INCLO members also call on regional bodies, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate action.
INCLO further urges the government to uphold its obligations under international human rights law, including protections against arbitrary detention and unlawful transfer, and to ensure accountability for any due process violations.
INCLO members call on the Kenyan government to immediately disclose the circumstances surrounding Brian Kagoro’s detention and transfer, and to guarantee his safety and access to legal counsel.
Human rights defenders must be able to carry out their legitimate work without fear of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention, or expulsion.
The targeting of individuals for their human rights activities sets a dangerous precedent and risks contributing to a broader climate of repression.
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...