December 2022 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the decriminalisation of consensual sexual acts between men in Ireland. At least 941 men were convicted of “homosexual acts” under legislation which no longer exists, and the number goes up to over …
EU Ombudsman’s decision
After a year-long inquiry, the EU Ombudsman recommends that the European Commission should monitor stages of progress in every Big Tech case that the Irish Data Protection Commission is responsible for.
EUs AI Liability regime should apply strict liability
ICCL makes two recommendations to better protect the victims when they are harmed by AI systems: hold companies liable regardless of the intent and fault; and provide clarity on how immaterial harms and societal harms will be addressed.
Briefing notes on incitement to hatred and hate crime bill
07 November 2022 Briefing notes from ICCL and the Coalition Against Hate Crime (CAHC) outlining the major issues of concern of the organisations working to strengthen the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022, submitted …
ICCL highlights concerns over proposed Garda use of Facial Recognition Technology
25 November 2022 On 23 November 2022 ICCL signed a joint letter to Minister for Jusitce, Helen McEntee TD, outlining our concerns over the government’s ongoing plans to legislate for and deploy policing facial recognition technologies (FRT).
ICCL launches ‘Know Your Rights: A guide for international protection applicants’
28 November 2022 On 28 November 2022, ICCL launched the latest addition to its ‘Know Your Rights’ series with the publication of ‘Know Your Rights: A Guide for international protection applicants’. This project has received funding from the Irish Human …
Once-in-a-generation moment to protect U.S. Privacy
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering new privacy rules to protect Internet users against tracking. The ICCL/Open Markets/TACD submission reveals the impact of tracking-based online advertising to enable the FTC to act.
ICCL calls for accountability for past human rights violations: Mother and Baby Homes
15 November 2022 ICCL has written again to Minister O’Gorman calling for a reversal of his decision not to task an independent human rights legal expert to review the content and treatment of survivor testimony given to Mother and Baby …
Hate Crime Coalition says Government will not be finished tackling hate crime when legislation is passed
8 November 2022 The Coalition Against Hate Crime Ireland looks forward to seeing the passage of new hate crime legislation through the Oireachtas and calls for proper implementation and complementary measures. For too long victims have gone without proper justice …
Unsealed court documents reveal data anarchy at Meta
ICCL letter to European Commission highlights new material about Meta’s internal data systems, and how Meta infringes the DMA & GDPR.
Better engagement with impacted communities paramount as hate crime and extreme hate speech legislation advances at the Oireachtas
27 October 2022 The Coalition Against Hate Crime Ireland welcomes the announcement that the Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences Bill 2022 will be published today. We have been calling for this legislation for many years and the …
Tesco barring store entry to people who refuse club cards
We are concerned that Tesco, a major grocery chain, is barring entry to its stores to people unless they download Tesco’s loyalty app or have subscribed to its loyalty scheme. ICCL has written to Tesco’s CEO challenging the legality of this action.
An Garda Síochána unlawfully retains files on innocent people who it has already cleared of producing or sharing of child sex abuse material
Data of people posting innocuous images or videos, such as children playing on a beach, unlawfully kept in a net of surveillance and suspicion with no cause
Little evidence from European Commission that it properly monitored Ireland’s application of the GDPR
The European Commission has presented little evidence to the EU Ombudsman that it is keeping an eye on how Ireland polices Big Tech.
New liability rules on product and AI are encouraging but need improvement
Updated product liability and AI liability rules are a step in the right direction. But they don’t go far enough.
ICCL Expresses Disappointment at Lack of Investment in Human Rights Infrastructure in Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/ 28 September 2022 The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has expressed disappointment that the government has chosen not to invest in areas identified by ICCL that would help protect and guarantee human rights in its Budget 2023. …
DPC problems are not due to Irish legislation, ICCL tells EU Parliament LIBE Committee & Oireachtas Justice Committee
ICCL has written to the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament and Senate) Justice Committee, and MEPs from the European Parliament Justice Committee, about the LIBE mission to Dublin to investigate Ireland’s application of the GDPR.
Accountability for past human rights violations: Mother and Baby Homes
ICCL has written to Minister O’Gorman calling for a reversal of his decision not to task an independent human rights legal expert to review the content and treatment of survivor testimony given to MBH Commission, in light of recent UN …
Remarks on €405 million fine imposed on Instagram
It is clear from other data protection authorities examination of the DPC’s work that there are problems, but the DPC has succeeded in forcing Instagram to fix a problem that had exposed children to risk for years. We applaud it for doing so.