Blog | DRI
DRI challenge to Data Retention
Digital Rights Ireland has written to the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Michael McDowell TD, and to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey TD and to the Garda Commissioner. We have looked for undertakings from them to cease breaching the …
Irish Times article on technology and consumers’ rights
Many thanks to Davin O’Dwyer who has an article in today’s Irish Times setting out our concerns about issues such as fair use, private copying rights, and more: Whether it’s listening to music on iPods, talking on our mobile phones or surfing the web, most …
Irish Government challenges Data Retention Directive – but ignores privacy rights
The Irish Government yesterday started a challenge to the Data Retention Directive before the European Court of Justice. (The challenge was long promised but was filed only yesterday.) What does this mean for us? On the plus side, the challenge will certainly delay implementation of …
Data Retention Conference
The Irish Centre for European Law is hosting a conference on “Privacy and the Data Retention Directive” on Wednesday, 19 July 2006, from 2-6pm in the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson Street. Speakers will include: Paul Durrant, Internet Service Providers Association Billy Hawkes, Data Protection …
CIA is monitoring personal bank data of Irish citizens
The Irish Times reports that the US government is engaged in illegal monitoring of money transfers by Irish citizens: The personal data of thousands of Irish citizens that have sent or received money transfers to and from the US has been covertly logged by US …
Gardaí Leaking Mobile Phone Records?
Last Tuesday’s Evening Herald had a curious front page story about the Afghan hunger strikers. Entitled “Truth about Taliban hunger strike” it read: Exclusive: Sinister Taliban rebels directed Dublin sit-in protest from Afghanistan. The hunger strikers inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral were being directed from Afghanistan, …
Photographers’ Rights
There have been many discussions lately, both online and off, on the rights of photographers – when, where and what you can legitimately photograph, and what you can subsequently do with the photographs you take. This pamphlet is intended to give an outline of your …
PPS Numbers and “Cradle to Grave” Tracking
Cian Murphy gave an interesting talk on the privacy implications of PPS numbers at the recent IALT Conference: Since September 2003, the PPS Number has been allocated automatically on the basis of birth … A PPS number is required for revenue purposes in all employment, …
Defamation Bill – Will it Meet Internet Users’ Needs?
According to the Irish Times the Cabinet has decided to proceed with a new Defamation Bill. The text of the Bill is yet to be published, but there is concern that (if it follows previous recommendations) it may focus too much on the traditional media …
Data Protection Commissioner says data retention must be limited to serious crime
At the launch of the Data Protection Commissioner’s 2005 Annual Report today Mr. Billy Hawkes, the Commissioner, strongly criticised the current Data Protection laws and suggested in his report that the implementation of the European Data Retention Directive into Irish law ought to be used …
Questionable Phone Tracking Proposal “Premature”
DRI today became aware of a plan to introduce a commercial mobile phone tracking service. Although marketed as being intended for parents to keep track of their children, this was also open to allow any phone user to being tracked by anyone else who had …
Government and Privacy in the Digital Age – Talk Now Online
Footage of Suw Charman’s talk on Government and Privacy in the Digital Age is now up on Google Video The question and answer session after the talk is also available. Thanks again to Suw for coming over to talk to us, and thanks to Ole …