Aidan O’Brien
@aidanobrien.bsky.social
Policy Researcher @edmoireland.bsky.social (all views yadda yadda yadda)
Internet Governance, Tech Regulation and Disinformation.
Would honestly rather be talking about movies.
(He/Him)
Internet Governance, Tech Regulation and Disinformation.
Would honestly rather be talking about movies.
(He/Him)
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Our entire regulatory framework has proved to be no more than a painted balsa wood front.
The AG here confirms it is illegal to generate CSAM.
We also gave CnaM the power to act on any material which was not illegal, but was offensive.
Turns out they don’t wanna.
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
The AG here confirms it is illegal to generate CSAM.
We also gave CnaM the power to act on any material which was not illegal, but was offensive.
Turns out they don’t wanna.
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
Coimisiún na Meán unlikely to seek Irish blocking of Grok
Media watchdog Coimisiún na Meán is unlikely to seek the banning or blocking of AI app Grok in Ireland by itself, and will instead wait until further talks with the European Commission before deciding...
www.rte.ie
January 20, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Our entire regulatory framework has proved to be no more than a painted balsa wood front.
The AG here confirms it is illegal to generate CSAM.
We also gave CnaM the power to act on any material which was not illegal, but was offensive.
Turns out they don’t wanna.
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
The AG here confirms it is illegal to generate CSAM.
We also gave CnaM the power to act on any material which was not illegal, but was offensive.
Turns out they don’t wanna.
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
I'm announcing a total, immediate and complete ban on the Superintendent Chalmers aurora borealis meme on #Speirgorm for the next 12 hours....
January 19, 2026 at 11:11 PM
I'm announcing a total, immediate and complete ban on the Superintendent Chalmers aurora borealis meme on #Speirgorm for the next 12 hours....
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
One more, I am begging English commentators and journalists to remember what the UK did in Northern Ireland.
Of course what's occurring in the US could happen in the UK! It already fecking did.
Of course what's occurring in the US could happen in the UK! It already fecking did.
January 19, 2026 at 2:02 PM
One more, I am begging English commentators and journalists to remember what the UK did in Northern Ireland.
Of course what's occurring in the US could happen in the UK! It already fecking did.
Of course what's occurring in the US could happen in the UK! It already fecking did.
I have never *ever* seen a person struggle with a buggy by themselves on a London Tube/Train station stairs. Literally, as they pull up to them, a passing stranger will pick up the front of the buggy and help them up/down, and then usually immediately walk off wordlessly. Every single time.
TIMELINE CLEANSE
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
January 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM
I have never *ever* seen a person struggle with a buggy by themselves on a London Tube/Train station stairs. Literally, as they pull up to them, a passing stranger will pick up the front of the buggy and help them up/down, and then usually immediately walk off wordlessly. Every single time.
Only 5 more and he'll have earned a free latte from the canteen in the four courts.
"A HIGH COURT judge has ordered Enoch Burke be returned to prison for repeatedly breaching a court order instructing him not to trespass at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath." #Ireland #SpéirGhorm
Enoch Burke ordered to prison for fifth time after repeated breaches of court order
Burke was arrested earlier ahead of a scheduled appearance at the High Court in Dublin this morning.
www.thejournal.ie
January 19, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Only 5 more and he'll have earned a free latte from the canteen in the four courts.
This is *not* a competition.
You can be horrified and appalled by the introduction of IBSV tools on X, and you can be also be horrified and appalled by the implications of a company's AI companion/girlfriend software/
You can be horrified and appalled by the introduction of IBSV tools on X, and you can be also be horrified and appalled by the implications of a company's AI companion/girlfriend software/
January 19, 2026 at 1:17 PM
This is *not* a competition.
You can be horrified and appalled by the introduction of IBSV tools on X, and you can be also be horrified and appalled by the implications of a company's AI companion/girlfriend software/
You can be horrified and appalled by the introduction of IBSV tools on X, and you can be also be horrified and appalled by the implications of a company's AI companion/girlfriend software/
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Now we’re talking.
🚨 Fine Gael TD and barrister Barry Ward has written to Gardaí issuing a formal complaint against X and its linked companies "in the anticipation that you will investigate it fully and transmit a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions without delay.”
Full text 🔽
pastebin.com/cdEVuLqA
Full text 🔽
pastebin.com/cdEVuLqA
To:Detective Superintendent Pat RyanGarda National Cyber Crime BureauDea - Pastebin.com
Pastebin.com is the number one paste tool since 2002. Pastebin is a website where you can store text online for a set period of time.
pastebin.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Now we’re talking.
#BlueMonday is corporate marketing bollocks.
But this is an excuse to share the remix from the movie Atomic Blonde which absolutely slaps…
But this is an excuse to share the remix from the movie Atomic Blonde which absolutely slaps…
HEALTH - Blue Monday (Atomic Blonde Soundtrack)
YouTube video by Lehane
youtu.be
January 19, 2026 at 12:36 PM
#BlueMonday is corporate marketing bollocks.
But this is an excuse to share the remix from the movie Atomic Blonde which absolutely slaps…
But this is an excuse to share the remix from the movie Atomic Blonde which absolutely slaps…
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
I’m telling you, this is a line we should not allow to be blurred.
Assert that what has been done is illegal.
Have it investigated as illegality.
Bring prosecutions of company officials on illegality.
Describe the basis of each step clearly and without obfuscation or imprecision.
Assert that what has been done is illegal.
Have it investigated as illegality.
Bring prosecutions of company officials on illegality.
Describe the basis of each step clearly and without obfuscation or imprecision.
Without meaningful pushback from regulators and users, Grok’s example risks setting a permissive precedent—signaling to other nudification apps and platform companies that AI-generated NCII can be treated as funny, harmless, or otherwise tolerable, writes Kaylee Williams.
Grok Supercharges the Nonconsensual Pornography Epidemic
Without meaningful pushback from regulators and users, Grok’s example risks setting a dangerously permissive precedent that, writes Kaylee Williams.
buff.ly
January 18, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I’m telling you, this is a line we should not allow to be blurred.
Assert that what has been done is illegal.
Have it investigated as illegality.
Bring prosecutions of company officials on illegality.
Describe the basis of each step clearly and without obfuscation or imprecision.
Assert that what has been done is illegal.
Have it investigated as illegality.
Bring prosecutions of company officials on illegality.
Describe the basis of each step clearly and without obfuscation or imprecision.
“Despite the disaster of 1066”, I would fucking love to know the polling on how many Brits who consider the Normans as Scandinavian rather than French…
Meanwhile Hannan's best pal, the overtly racist bigot Douglas Carswell, is 'not sure this is ideal'...
January 18, 2026 at 6:13 PM
“Despite the disaster of 1066”, I would fucking love to know the polling on how many Brits who consider the Normans as Scandinavian rather than French…
The Mandalorian on Drag Race;
This is the slay.
This is the slay.
The Mandalorian making a protein shake:
This is the whey.
This is the whey.
The Mandalorian serving breakfast in bed:
This is the tray.
This is the tray.
January 18, 2026 at 2:16 PM
The Mandalorian on Drag Race;
This is the slay.
This is the slay.
Don’t be ridiculous. FIFA executives are incapable of feeling shame…
January 18, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Don’t be ridiculous. FIFA executives are incapable of feeling shame…
Growing, my dad was fairly right wing, but as he’s gotten older he’s actually become increasingly left wing, appalled by Trump, the Gaza Genocide, and more supportive of LGBTQI+ rights etc…
He has also always despised social media and has no presence on it.
He has also always despised social media and has no presence on it.
I have a *lot* of friends who have always had strong family relationships start talking about how they're now struggling to even speak to their parents in the last few years.
Every time - their parent's worldview is getting darker and nastier as a result of their media and social media diet.
Every time - their parent's worldview is getting darker and nastier as a result of their media and social media diet.
January 18, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Growing, my dad was fairly right wing, but as he’s gotten older he’s actually become increasingly left wing, appalled by Trump, the Gaza Genocide, and more supportive of LGBTQI+ rights etc…
He has also always despised social media and has no presence on it.
He has also always despised social media and has no presence on it.
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Nearly there!
December 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Nearly there!
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Reform have received so many unloved and now useless cast-offs which they're trying to convince us the value of and re-sell to us, we should change their name to Oxform.
January 18, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Reform have received so many unloved and now useless cast-offs which they're trying to convince us the value of and re-sell to us, we should change their name to Oxform.
Singing about removing limescale from the coffee machine to the tune of the Pixies’ “debaser” on a Sunday morning
January 18, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Singing about removing limescale from the coffee machine to the tune of the Pixies’ “debaser” on a Sunday morning
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
once again this just reads like a horror story
January 18, 2026 at 10:15 AM
once again this just reads like a horror story
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Hey, if any of you motherfuckers want Lego sets, you better buy 'em now.
January 18, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Hey, if any of you motherfuckers want Lego sets, you better buy 'em now.
Pulling off a skit like this with no dialogue and completely live. Legends
January 18, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Pulling off a skit like this with no dialogue and completely live. Legends
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Should the EU retaliate against US tariffs or ignore them? I can see good arguments on both sides. But Europe can and should: continue the military buildup in Greenland; junk the “deal” that rewards bad US behaviour and runs contrary to the MFN principle: & regulate US tech as we see fit
January 17, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Should the EU retaliate against US tariffs or ignore them? I can see good arguments on both sides. But Europe can and should: continue the military buildup in Greenland; junk the “deal” that rewards bad US behaviour and runs contrary to the MFN principle: & regulate US tech as we see fit
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Hey there Bsky!
Would anyone know of any Irish/Based-in-Ireland Queer LGBTQ+ journals/literary magazines/publications who are currently active and open to submissions?
Preferably, but not exclusively, on the somewhat academic side!
Would anyone know of any Irish/Based-in-Ireland Queer LGBTQ+ journals/literary magazines/publications who are currently active and open to submissions?
Preferably, but not exclusively, on the somewhat academic side!
January 17, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Hey there Bsky!
Would anyone know of any Irish/Based-in-Ireland Queer LGBTQ+ journals/literary magazines/publications who are currently active and open to submissions?
Preferably, but not exclusively, on the somewhat academic side!
Would anyone know of any Irish/Based-in-Ireland Queer LGBTQ+ journals/literary magazines/publications who are currently active and open to submissions?
Preferably, but not exclusively, on the somewhat academic side!
Reposted by Aidan O’Brien
Lateral reading is a fact-checking technique where you leave the source and search for information about it from credible third parties. I explain how to do it step-by-step here:
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/quick-tips...
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/quick-tips...
Quick Tips to Fact-Check Like a Pro
Master Lateral Reading and Value Checking to Separate Truth from Fiction
matthewfacciani.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Lateral reading is a fact-checking technique where you leave the source and search for information about it from credible third parties. I explain how to do it step-by-step here:
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/quick-tips...
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/quick-tips...
Bulgaria’s government was recently forced to resign after a massive corruption scandals and is consistently at the bottom of the EU corruption index.
So matching it with Michael Lowry’s home turf, Tipperary, feels a little on the nose.
So matching it with Michael Lowry’s home turf, Tipperary, feels a little on the nose.
Each Irish county has been paired with an EU member state for Ireland’s presidency of the European Council
January 17, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Bulgaria’s government was recently forced to resign after a massive corruption scandals and is consistently at the bottom of the EU corruption index.
So matching it with Michael Lowry’s home turf, Tipperary, feels a little on the nose.
So matching it with Michael Lowry’s home turf, Tipperary, feels a little on the nose.