See our briefing note on The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025
www.iccl.ie/police-justi...
Loyalty cards are a means for stores to carry out largescale data collection to track our habits and behaviours.
The GDPR says that consent must be “freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous”. Is it consent when there is an imbalance of power, as in the case of supermarket loyalty schemes?
The new term “biometric analysis” in the bill is concerning. The powers it creates - categorising people based on biometric data and tracking unidentified and identified people across CCTV footage - overlap with biometric categorisation and biometric identification systems as per the EU AI Act.
The Bill also defines “biometric identification” more narrowly than EU law and guidance. By departing from established EU terminology and safeguards, it risks creating legal uncertainty, reducing transparency for the public, and weakening protections for fundamental rights.
RIP Brian McNally.
Brian was one of the Sallins Men who were falsely accused, wrongly convicted and imprisoned for the 1976 Sallins train robbery.
ICCL continues to stand with Osgur Breatnach, Nicky Kelly and the Sallins Men in their fight for truth, justice and a full public inquiry.
The EU AI Act places strict limits on police use of biometric technologies, including facial recognition. But Ireland is not automatically bound by some of the Act’s policing provisions. This Act introduces biometric surveillance powers without clearly incorporating the AI Act’s safeguards.
An Garda Síochána is rolling out body-worn cameras nationwide after a pilot. Without publishing the pilot findings or providing evidence to back up the claims gardaí make about them.
An Garda needs to publish the pilot review and the code of practice, before any further rollout.
“Many people may feel they have really little choice but to agree to share personal data, and that’s when you wonder, are people signing up for discounts, or are they just signing up to not be charged for not signing up?” - @olgacronin.bsky.social.
www.thejournal.ie/consent-supe...
Today is an incredibly important day for Pat Finucane's family, as a public inquiry into his murder finally begins.
For over three decades, Mr Finucane’s family have campaigned for truth, justice and accountability. We hope the inquiry brings this a step closer.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
The media reports that An Garda Síochána will roll out body-worn cameras nationwide, without publishing the final report on the pilot.
It’s not enough to simply say they are useful. We need to see evidence and we need to consider the risks and how they are controlled.
www.iccl.ie/news/questio...
