Cath
@cathdibella.bsky.social
Irish. Live by the seashore. ❤️ books, libraries & bookshops
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Reposted by Cath
So we have figures now.
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Musk’s Chatbot Flooded X With Millions of Sexualized Images in Days, New Estimates Show
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:58 PM
So we have figures now.
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Reposted by Cath
Almost 60% of Kyiv without power as Russian strikes shatter grid reut.rs/3LQMorI
Almost 60% of Kyiv without power as Russian strikes shatter grid
Many of Kyiv's residents have been living with only a few hours of electricity a day.
reut.rs
January 21, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Almost 60% of Kyiv without power as Russian strikes shatter grid reut.rs/3LQMorI
Reposted by Cath
3 hours ago, The Taoiseach posted photos on X of school children from a visit he made to Gorey.
How is that not a severe safeguarding issue, given what can be done with any photo on X now?
#IrishPol
How is that not a severe safeguarding issue, given what can be done with any photo on X now?
#IrishPol
The Taoiseach can't decide if the gov should stop posting pictures on X which can be turned into CSAM or other illegal content by anyone.
And what other issues on other platforms are as illegal as being a CSAM generator?
Well done Richard for being the voice of the sane here.
#IrishPol
And what other issues on other platforms are as illegal as being a CSAM generator?
Well done Richard for being the voice of the sane here.
#IrishPol
He did say Apple & Google should remove it from app stores.
He also said the Govt wouldn’t give “kneejerk” response by immediately coming off X, saying other platforms have issues too.
I interjected to say those other platforms don’t generate CSAM.
He accepts that but said other issues exist.
He also said the Govt wouldn’t give “kneejerk” response by immediately coming off X, saying other platforms have issues too.
I interjected to say those other platforms don’t generate CSAM.
He accepts that but said other issues exist.
January 16, 2026 at 4:18 PM
3 hours ago, The Taoiseach posted photos on X of school children from a visit he made to Gorey.
How is that not a severe safeguarding issue, given what can be done with any photo on X now?
#IrishPol
How is that not a severe safeguarding issue, given what can be done with any photo on X now?
#IrishPol
Reposted by Cath
I once worked with a girl who, on a coffee break, finished a book she'd been reading, sighed and said "That was sooo good". Then walked to the bin and threw it in. That was well over 30 years ago and I'm not the better of it yet.
I am now ready to admit I have too many books but I am not ready to admit that anything follows from this. It is an isolated fact shedding no light and recommending no course of action.
January 16, 2026 at 1:02 PM
I once worked with a girl who, on a coffee break, finished a book she'd been reading, sighed and said "That was sooo good". Then walked to the bin and threw it in. That was well over 30 years ago and I'm not the better of it yet.
Reposted by Cath
So excited to start our new three-part lecture series on Understanding the Places, People & Politics of the 1916 Rising with Dr Damian Shiels!
The opening session is on this evening, and looks at the context of the Rising.
#Ireland #SpéirGhorm #IrishHistory
The opening session is on this evening, and looks at the context of the Rising.
#Ireland #SpéirGhorm #IrishHistory
January 15, 2026 at 1:19 PM
So excited to start our new three-part lecture series on Understanding the Places, People & Politics of the 1916 Rising with Dr Damian Shiels!
The opening session is on this evening, and looks at the context of the Rising.
#Ireland #SpéirGhorm #IrishHistory
The opening session is on this evening, and looks at the context of the Rising.
#Ireland #SpéirGhorm #IrishHistory
Reposted by Cath
Once again, Niamh Smyth absolutely leading in not shirking the responsibilities of her portfolio.
Rare I offer praise for any Minister but when her colleagues have equivocated on what's happened and what needs to happen, she has very strongly called it straight so far and hasn't bent to pressure.
Rare I offer praise for any Minister but when her colleagues have equivocated on what's happened and what needs to happen, she has very strongly called it straight so far and hasn't bent to pressure.
January 15, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Once again, Niamh Smyth absolutely leading in not shirking the responsibilities of her portfolio.
Rare I offer praise for any Minister but when her colleagues have equivocated on what's happened and what needs to happen, she has very strongly called it straight so far and hasn't bent to pressure.
Rare I offer praise for any Minister but when her colleagues have equivocated on what's happened and what needs to happen, she has very strongly called it straight so far and hasn't bent to pressure.
Reposted by Cath
the European mission to Greenland was fourth in the BBC news running order this morning, which feels a bit like doing a light "and finally..." item about the archduke's motorcade taking a wrong turn in Sarajevo
January 15, 2026 at 10:01 AM
the European mission to Greenland was fourth in the BBC news running order this morning, which feels a bit like doing a light "and finally..." item about the archduke's motorcade taking a wrong turn in Sarajevo
Reposted by Cath
"People guessed around 43.8% of people born outside of Ireland were availing of social housing compared to the real figure of 6.1%."
www.thejournal.ie/immigration-...
www.thejournal.ie/immigration-...
Many people think immigration happening on larger scale than is really the case
The report by the ESRI found that many people overestimated the proportion of people in Ireland who were born in another country.
www.thejournal.ie
January 15, 2026 at 9:04 AM
"People guessed around 43.8% of people born outside of Ireland were availing of social housing compared to the real figure of 6.1%."
www.thejournal.ie/immigration-...
www.thejournal.ie/immigration-...
Reposted by Cath
Gardaí investigating 200 reports of alleged AI-generated child sex abuse material on X
Social network’s tool Grok has been creating illegal images at the request of users
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
Social network’s tool Grok has been creating illegal images at the request of users
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
Gardaí investigate 200 reports into Grok images
Follow live updates as an Oireachtas Committee on Media holds a hearing on the regulation of online platforms and online safety. There will be a particular focus on the recent controversy surrounding ...
www.rte.ie
January 14, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Gardaí investigating 200 reports of alleged AI-generated child sex abuse material on X
Social network’s tool Grok has been creating illegal images at the request of users
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
Social network’s tool Grok has been creating illegal images at the request of users
www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Cath
People are being invited to submit their thoughts and ideas on the education system in a process that will feed into the establishment of a national convention looking at the future of education
Department seeks views on future of education system
People are being invited to submit their thoughts and ideas on the education system in a process that will feed into the establishment of a national convention looking at the future of education.
www.rte.ie
January 14, 2026 at 11:02 AM
People are being invited to submit their thoughts and ideas on the education system in a process that will feed into the establishment of a national convention looking at the future of education
Reposted by Cath
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
Grok, Elon Musk’s AI tool, has switched off its image creation function for the vast majority of users after widespread outcry over its use to create sexually explicit and violent imagery.
It comes after Musk was threatened with fines, regulatory action and reports of a possible ban on X in the UK. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
Reposted by Cath
Section 5(1)(f) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended) makes it a criminal offence to knowingly facilitate the production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The problem here isn't the law - it's the political willingnesss to enforce it against X.
My word. (Again.)
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."
January 8, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Section 5(1)(f) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended) makes it a criminal offence to knowingly facilitate the production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The problem here isn't the law - it's the political willingnesss to enforce it against X.
Reposted by Cath
Happy New Year 🎊
It's time to register for the new Seanad Éireann Higher education constituency.
Register by 26 February at seanadvoter.ie 🗳️
Got any questions? Check out our FAQ here: seanadvoter.ie/FAQEN.shtml
It's time to register for the new Seanad Éireann Higher education constituency.
Register by 26 February at seanadvoter.ie 🗳️
Got any questions? Check out our FAQ here: seanadvoter.ie/FAQEN.shtml
January 8, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Happy New Year 🎊
It's time to register for the new Seanad Éireann Higher education constituency.
Register by 26 February at seanadvoter.ie 🗳️
Got any questions? Check out our FAQ here: seanadvoter.ie/FAQEN.shtml
It's time to register for the new Seanad Éireann Higher education constituency.
Register by 26 February at seanadvoter.ie 🗳️
Got any questions? Check out our FAQ here: seanadvoter.ie/FAQEN.shtml
Reposted by Cath
[Éibhear here: I wrote this today to my TDs. I don't like to use this account for these sorts of things, but I'm re-posting here because I base much of my point on how I manage @theauldsthretch]
My e-mail to my TDs, subject line "Continued use of a dangerous service":
![So, Twitter has moved on from "nothing good would come from [it]" to allowing paying users to generate non-consensual sexualised imagery of women and children. And yet, your respective parties continue to use it. I don't know if you guys use it, as I don't darken its door, but I hope you don't. This feature of Twitter is not something that is being abused, as an Taoiseach suggested. This feature is designed to be used in exactly this way. Your parties' continued use of twitter cannot be construed as anything less than acceptance of this feature. Some might even construe it as an endorsement. I would like not to think that, but the statements I have read from both an Taoiseach and an Tánaiste leave me wondering.
My message to you and your parties is simple: stop using Twitter altogether. I can imagine that there are some legal challenges in the approach of investigating and prosecuting twitter for this heinous service such that a resolution will be months or years away. That's fine: I support the notion of "due process" without any quibble. But your parties' use of Twitter is not a legal matter. There is no legal reason to continue using it.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:23mysztmt7dh3l5lzhinzafi/bafkreigkmqtdmjj7mkxqwdwv3tejtpwa6kpngrslti4f3hdo4aar37nkhm@jpeg)
![If political parties, news organisations and other commercial operations stopped using Twitter altogether, it would collapse down to something like Gab or Truth Social, and I would guess (nay, hope!) you guys have no problem staying away from those services.
Finally, if you're tempted to reply to me with some lines asserting that twitter is socially important, or that it's necessary to remain there for the sake of the followers, I request you not to do so. It would be a waste of my time and yours, as I don't accept either premise.
Is mise,
Éibhear Ó hAnluain, a Dublin Bay North constituent,
[my home address, excluded because I am not a complete dope]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:23mysztmt7dh3l5lzhinzafi/bafkreiflmqttaponn2guam44f6fy6rqszvnasdm6u2xjtesam4iqg2m45i@jpeg)
January 8, 2026 at 12:30 PM
[Éibhear here: I wrote this today to my TDs. I don't like to use this account for these sorts of things, but I'm re-posting here because I base much of my point on how I manage @theauldsthretch]
Reposted by Cath
Grok has risen to no1 overall in the Irish App Store chart.
Apple gives it a 13+ rating, meaning it’s ‘safe’ for young teens
Apple gives it a 13+ rating, meaning it’s ‘safe’ for young teens
January 8, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Grok has risen to no1 overall in the Irish App Store chart.
Apple gives it a 13+ rating, meaning it’s ‘safe’ for young teens
Apple gives it a 13+ rating, meaning it’s ‘safe’ for young teens
Reposted by Cath
1/2 In light of the violations by Grok the X AI chatbot let's look at the gap in Irish law.
There's an apparent and dangerous gap in the law. Under Coco's law that got enacted in 2020 the sharing of deepfake and harmful content is illegal so is the using of such material for harrassment. However
There's an apparent and dangerous gap in the law. Under Coco's law that got enacted in 2020 the sharing of deepfake and harmful content is illegal so is the using of such material for harrassment. However
January 7, 2026 at 11:03 PM
1/2 In light of the violations by Grok the X AI chatbot let's look at the gap in Irish law.
There's an apparent and dangerous gap in the law. Under Coco's law that got enacted in 2020 the sharing of deepfake and harmful content is illegal so is the using of such material for harrassment. However
There's an apparent and dangerous gap in the law. Under Coco's law that got enacted in 2020 the sharing of deepfake and harmful content is illegal so is the using of such material for harrassment. However
Reposted by Cath
Guido Nasi, the Italian man who was paralysed as a teenager after an unprovoked attack in Dublin, has died aged 43
Italian student paralysed after 1999 Dublin attack dies
Guido Nasi, the Italian man who was paralysed as a teenager after an unprovoked attack in Dublin, has died aged 43.
www.rte.ie
January 7, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Guido Nasi, the Italian man who was paralysed as a teenager after an unprovoked attack in Dublin, has died aged 43
Reposted by Cath
We're SO excited to have Maggie O'Farrell (!!!!) on the pod this week to chat about Hamnet! This is a special short bonus episode with just the interview. Thanks for resharing @imbibecoffee.bsky.social :) podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/b...
January 7, 2026 at 5:28 PM
We're SO excited to have Maggie O'Farrell (!!!!) on the pod this week to chat about Hamnet! This is a special short bonus episode with just the interview. Thanks for resharing @imbibecoffee.bsky.social :) podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/b...
Reposted by Cath
For Epiphany, this glorious 1966 illustration of the Three Kings by the great Eyvind Earle (1916 - 2000), best remembered for his enormous contribution to Disney Animation's visual style during the 1950s, particularly Sleeping Beauty (1959).
January 6, 2026 at 6:45 PM
For Epiphany, this glorious 1966 illustration of the Three Kings by the great Eyvind Earle (1916 - 2000), best remembered for his enormous contribution to Disney Animation's visual style during the 1950s, particularly Sleeping Beauty (1959).
@theapplefarmer.bsky.social Received two boxes of your apples as a gift over Christmas! They are fab and we have the added bonus of a gorgeous apple-y smell in our kitchen! Am not worrying about storing them as they are disappearing fast
January 5, 2026 at 8:47 PM
@theapplefarmer.bsky.social Received two boxes of your apples as a gift over Christmas! They are fab and we have the added bonus of a gorgeous apple-y smell in our kitchen! Am not worrying about storing them as they are disappearing fast
Reposted by Cath
What I miss on social media is knowledge.
We see things that evoke emotions,
but rarely those that awaken our minds.
I do and will keep doing unpopular things.
I’ll keep educating you about Ukraine.
Let’s use social media wisely.
Less hype, more knowledge.
We see things that evoke emotions,
but rarely those that awaken our minds.
I do and will keep doing unpopular things.
I’ll keep educating you about Ukraine.
Let’s use social media wisely.
Less hype, more knowledge.
January 5, 2026 at 5:52 PM
What I miss on social media is knowledge.
We see things that evoke emotions,
but rarely those that awaken our minds.
I do and will keep doing unpopular things.
I’ll keep educating you about Ukraine.
Let’s use social media wisely.
Less hype, more knowledge.
We see things that evoke emotions,
but rarely those that awaken our minds.
I do and will keep doing unpopular things.
I’ll keep educating you about Ukraine.
Let’s use social media wisely.
Less hype, more knowledge.
Reposted by Cath
Everything's scary and bad but today the Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin met President Xi Jinping in Beijing and they bonded over reading the same obscure revolutionary novel as teens.
Related: ours is the only diplomatic corps I know where solid recall of lots of poetry is required to do your job.
Related: ours is the only diplomatic corps I know where solid recall of lots of poetry is required to do your job.
Xi Jinping says Irish novel The Gadfly sustained him during traumatic teenage years
Chinese president and Micheál Martin discover shared interest in revolutionary novel by Ethel Voynich
www.irishtimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Everything's scary and bad but today the Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin met President Xi Jinping in Beijing and they bonded over reading the same obscure revolutionary novel as teens.
Related: ours is the only diplomatic corps I know where solid recall of lots of poetry is required to do your job.
Related: ours is the only diplomatic corps I know where solid recall of lots of poetry is required to do your job.
Reposted by Cath
Plenty in here about the pros and cons and whys and hows and whens and impacts of foreign powers removing dictators
Most Engaging Explainer for the State of World Politics: How Tyrants Fall by Marcel Dirsus
January 3, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Plenty in here about the pros and cons and whys and hows and whens and impacts of foreign powers removing dictators
Reposted by Cath
Donate to MSF UK (Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders) | MSF UK
msf.org.uk
December 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Cath
Some local kids write & sell their own newspaper called The Morning Moustache every few months. Last edition, I wrote a letter to the editor about a fruit & veg safari. This edition, they printed the letter & followed up with some replies from the editorial team. An extremely fun correspondence.
December 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Some local kids write & sell their own newspaper called The Morning Moustache every few months. Last edition, I wrote a letter to the editor about a fruit & veg safari. This edition, they printed the letter & followed up with some replies from the editorial team. An extremely fun correspondence.