Blog | Internet Blocking and Filtering
Irish State Blocks Access to Own Websites
Ken Foxe of RTE has the news that internet blocking software in the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) is blocking a range of legitimate websites, including sites from the Irish central government, EU and organisations funded by the Irish taxpayer. Among the blocked sites: StPatricks.ie (a mental …
We need your help to keep working for European digital rights in 2014
2013 was a big year for digital rights and for Digital Rights Ireland in particular. We had a major success with our case against mass surveillance which led to an Advocate-General’s opinion that the Data Retention Directive is incompatible with the European Charter of Fundamental …
Garda plans for web blocking referred to Data Protection Commissioner
In our last post we mentioned Garda plans to introduce web blocking into Ireland. One of the many problems with blocking systems is that they require ISPs to take additional steps to monitor users, resulting in real risks to privacy. These risks are amplified in …
Garda plans to introduce web blocking in Ireland
Last year we revealed that the Department of Justice was working on secret plans to introduce internet filtering in Ireland. Now, despite a complete lack of any legislation, public consultation or democratic discussion, these plans have moved to the implementation stage. In a letter which …
Blocking of innocent websites by O2 Ireland
[Cross-posted from EDRiI-Gram] The Irish mobile operator O2 has acknowledged accidentally blocking the image hosting website IMGUR through its system for blocking alleged child abuse material. There appears to have been no indication that there was, in fact, any illegal material hosted on that site. …
Internet Filtering in Ireland: More Information from the Seanad
Following on from our freedom of information request, Senator Paschal Donohue recently raised the issue of internet filtering in the Seanad. In a perceptive intervention he pointed to business risks of filtering and sought to establish precisely what is the current policy in this area. …
Adrian Weckler: Why Internet Blocking Won’t Work
Adrian Weckler of the Sunday Business Post has an excellent recent column on the current EU proposals to require internet blocking: The European Commission has proposed a directive requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to ban access to websites displaying child pornography. Unfortunately, this is the …