Blog | Mass surveillance
Media Roundup – Data Retention
We’ve achieved very good publicity since we announced our Data Retention case with front page stories in the Irish Times and the Irish Examiner, and coverage in the Irish Independent and Silicon Republic. We’ve also had radio coverage on Today FM (Matt Cooper), Newstalk FM …
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, …
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, …
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 …
Minister for Justice Ducks Questions on Number Plate Surveillance Scheme
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was recently asked about the privacy implications of Garda plans to introduce cameras to record details of the number plate of every passing car. However, the Minister’s response doesn’t answer the questions asked and leaves us still …