Enforcing human rights on tech
This is a pivotal moment: the tech threat to democracy and human rights is clear. We investigate, litigate, and advocate to protect human rights.
By 2030, we will push technology back towards democratic value.
The problem
Big tech. Even bigger problems.
Disinformation and the collapse of journalistic media are symptoms of a privacy crisis. Online advertising snoops on us all. This exposes us all to manipulation and powers the toxic algorithms that put hateful videos and posts in our social feeds. It also provides a business model for disinformation while simultaneously undermining journalistic media businesses.
Meanwhile, Big Tech giants misuse personal data to create cascading monopolies. They crush journalistic media, snuff out nascent competitors, and entrench their power.
Political leaders are confronted by Artificial Intelligence and other technologies that require detailed, technical knowledge. But, even when Europe introduces strong data protection law, it fails to enforce. When democratic rule-making doesn’t change anything, we have a big problem.
If we don't act, our children will inherit a dangerous world.
Solution
We advocate, investigate, and litigate
Enforce has a plan for a better world. We will push technology back towards democratic value. Our mission to protect human rights also helps protect journalistic media, enact smart law, and curb online hate and hysteria.
Our work is global. We share technical expertise with legislators in strategic jurisdictions, and we investigate tech, industry practice, and markets. Our expertise supports other civil society organisations, too.
We also take bad actors to court. We are currently litigating in Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and Luxembourg.
By 2030, we will correct tech's course.
About us
At the forefront of progress since 1976
Enforce is a unit of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL). Ireland’s unique responsibility for monitoring human rights on large digital platforms give us an international focus. Enforce is ICCL's response to the global challenge to enforce digital rights.
Digital issues are only part of ICCL’s work. We have been at the forefront of every major rights advance in Irish society for over 40 years: we helped legalise homosexuality, divorce, contraception, and marriage equality. We drove police reform, defending suspects' rights during dark times of political violence, and continues to do so.
ICCL was founded by Mary Robinson, who later became UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Kader Asmal, who later became a Minister in Nelson Mandela’s Government.
ICCL is an entirely independent membership organisation, and relies on donations and gifts. ICCL’s large funders (across all areas of work) are the Open Society Foundations, the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Rowan Trust, Luminate & Reset, the Limelight Foundation, the International Network for Civil Liberties Organisations, and the European AI & Society Fund.
Tanya O’Carroll Senior Fellow, Foxglove
Dr Inge Graef Associate Professor of Competition Law, Tilburg University
Liam Herrick Executive Director, ICCL
Dr Cristina Caffarra Competition expert
Dr Dennis Jennings Internet pioneer, inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame
Laura Nolan computer scientist and campaigner against autonomous weapons
Contact
First Floor, Castleriver House, 14/15 Parliament Street,
Dublin 2, D02 FW60, Ireland
Phone: +353-1-9121640
Email: info@iccl.ie