ICCL report exposes a data free-for-all for companies like Google and Facebook 13 September 2021 Europe is unable to police how big tech firms use people’s data, and Ireland is Europe’s Wild West when it comes to data protection. That’s …
Europe’s enforcement paralysis: ICCL’s 2021 GDPR report
New insights in to GDPR enforcers across the EU reveal that Europe is unable to police how big tech firms use people’s data.
Our thoughts on what the DPC should do over the next 5 years
The Irish Data Protection Commission has a plan for the next five years. Here are our thoughts. The Data Protection Commission of Ireland has invited interested parties to comment on its draft regulatory strategy for the next five years. ICCL’s response …
ICCL lawsuit takes aim at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter and the entire online advertising industry
15 June 2021 Dublin – Online advertising causes the world’s biggest data breach. Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is going to court in Germany to stop it. ICCL’s lawsuit takes aim at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Verizon, AT&T, and …
We are hiring! ICCL Technology Fellow
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is hiring a technical expert with experience in a domain related to understanding AI/automated decision making, such as adversarial machine learning or inversion attacks. We want to understand what happens (intentionally and unintentionally) when …
Responding to Data Protection Commissioner’s remarks at the Justice Committee Hearing
ICCL testified at the parliamentary Justice Committee about problems at the Data Protection Commission. This note responds to the Data Protection Commissioner’s remarks at that hearing.See video of the full hearing17 May 2021 On 27 April ICCL testified at the …
Justice Committee to hear of danger of electoral manipulation if DPC does not act
27 April 2021 (updated with video on 17 May 2021) The Oireachtas Justice Committee will tonight hear that the Data Protection Commission (DPC) has failed to enforce the GDPR, creating an acute risk for democracy. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties’ …
New US Senate Bill may stop Ireland processing US data, unless Ireland acts on GDPR enforcement
Ireland’s digital sector threatened by a proposed requirement that data protection law must be properly enforced. This afternoon United States Senator Ron Wyden has proposed a new Bill to impose export controls on personal data about people in the US to …
Economic & Reputational Risk of the DPC’s Failure to Uphold EU Data Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/ Data Protection Commission puts rights of 448 million people at risk, will make Ireland irrelevant as global tech hub, hears Oireachtas Committee 9 April 2021 In nearly 3 years since the GDPR, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) …
Free expression concerns with Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill
11 March 2021 Significant parts of the proposed new legislation on online safety may not meet human rights standards, says the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL). The legislation proposes to restrict non-illegal speech online. However, the right to freedom …
4 Big Questions about Google’s new privacy position
This note examines Google’s planned advertising system, and highlights privacy, data protection, and competition questions. Author: Dr Johnny Ryan In January 2020 Google announced that it was considering a major change in how its online advertising system operates.[1] Hidden machines …
Questions about Facebook’s acquisition of Kustomer
We have written to Facebook ‘s Chief Privacy Officer, Michel Protti, to ask what FB will do with the data it gains when it acquires health & education chatbot company “Kustomer”.Facebook is acquiring a company called Kustomer. We fear that …
Internal problems exposed at Irish Data Protection Commission
Listen to an audio version of this ICCL story (or download audio)9 February 2021 ICCL investigation reveals years of delays to major ICT overhaul intended to enable the Irish Data Protection Commission to enforce the GDPR.Documents obtained by ICCL under …
EU Civil Liberties Committee calls on Commission to begin infringement proceedings against Ireland over data rights
4 February 2021 The EU’s Parliamentary Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), composed of over 50 MEPs, has prepared a hard-hitting motion against the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), calling on the European Commission to launch an …
ICCL alerts Irish Government of strategic economic risk from failure to uphold the GDPR
This note makes public a letter to the Irish Government describing how Ireland is being sidestepped as a regulatory center. EU Member States are sidestepping Ireland to enforce the GDPR. This threatens Ireland’s position in the global digital economy. It also …
ICCL’s Dr Johnny Ryan keynotes European Parliament launch of Tracking-free Ads Coalition
2 February 2021 Dr Johnny Ryan gave a keynote speech at the launch of the European Parliament tracking-free ads coalition. The Coalition intends to investigate whether Europe should prevent online surveillance to protect privacy and better support journalism. Javier Espinoza …
It’s Your Data! ICCL marks Data Protection Day
28 January To mark International Data Protection Day on 28 January, ICCL will take part in two online webinars – on Facial Recognition Technology and Tracking Free Ads – which you are invited to attend. At 1pm, ICCL’s Olga Cronin …
Digital Markets Act may create dangerous loopholes for Big Tech data use
ICCL writes to the European Parliament and to the European Commission to highlight loopholes in the proposed Digital Markets Act. On 15 December 2020 the European Commission published a proposal for a Digital Markets Act, intended to correct digital market problems. These …
State must not fail survivors of Mother and Baby Homes again
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said that the State cannot shirk its obligations under legally binding international human rights treaties to vindicate the rights of people who survived the Mother and Baby Homes. The State’s international human …
Today’s Twitter decision exposes a dismal view that Europe’s GDPR enforcers have of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission
15 December 2020 The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said it is disappointing that the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) chose to fine Twitter a meagre amount for a serious breach of data rights under the General Data Protection …