Karlin Lillington
@klillington.bsky.social
Retired Irish Times tech columnist. Chair, New Music Dublin. Likes privacy/infosec/human rights. Likes 🦇. Lots of 4-legged talls/smalls 🐕🐈⬛🫏🐴. Talkative. 🇨🇦➡️🇺🇸➡️🇮🇪 Also on 🦣
Pinned
Half a billion people— the whole of the EU’s citizenry— owe their right not to be casually surveilled en masse by their governments to Karlin’s reporting on Data Retention.
We literally cited it to the court in the DRI data retention case.
We literally cited it to the court in the DRI data retention case.
The end of an era and certainly, surely, the single most insightful run on a rapidly changing field.
Karlin Lillington’s last column in today’s Irish Times.
Karlin Lillington’s last column in today’s Irish Times.
The lifetime work I'm most proud of. A decade went into those stories/columns, involving FOIs, tip-offs & concerned, informed individuals/groups helping me better understand the issues. The day the ECJ overturned the EU Data Retention Directive in the DRI judgement was the greatest of my career
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Had a huge lunch at home of Palestinian friends today & their 6 year old daughter came over to whisper to me that at school they all secretly say '67' but the teacher has banned them from saying it especially if they make extra noises 🤔 but says they also sneakily say 'a sé a seacht' 😂 #speirgorm
February 14, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Had a huge lunch at home of Palestinian friends today & their 6 year old daughter came over to whisper to me that at school they all secretly say '67' but the teacher has banned them from saying it especially if they make extra noises 🤔 but says they also sneakily say 'a sé a seacht' 😂 #speirgorm
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
WOMEN👏DON’T👏WANT👏CHOCOLATES 👏FOR 👏VALENTINE’S 👏DAY 👏THEY 👏WANT 👏MERRIAM-WEBSTER’S 👏COLLEGIATE 👏DICTIONARY 👏TWELFTH 👏EDITION 👏
February 14, 2026 at 8:50 PM
WOMEN👏DON’T👏WANT👏CHOCOLATES 👏FOR 👏VALENTINE’S 👏DAY 👏THEY 👏WANT 👏MERRIAM-WEBSTER’S 👏COLLEGIATE 👏DICTIONARY 👏TWELFTH 👏EDITION 👏
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Ten(ish) of the Best African Speculative Short Fiction Stories of 2025 picked by Wole Talabi
(author of "Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon")
reactormag.com/tenish-of-th...
(author of "Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon")
reactormag.com/tenish-of-th...
Ten(ish) of the Best African Speculative Short Fiction Stories of 2025 - Reactor
Here are some of the speculative fiction gems that may have flown under the radar in 2025...
reactormag.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Ten(ish) of the Best African Speculative Short Fiction Stories of 2025 picked by Wole Talabi
(author of "Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon")
reactormag.com/tenish-of-th...
(author of "Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon")
reactormag.com/tenish-of-th...
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Bathrobe lady is MPR reporter/badass Sam Stroozas www.mpr.org/stories/2026...
Meet Minnesota Bathrobe Lady Sam Stroozas of MPR News | Minnesota Public Radio
Earlier this week, an unexpected and fast-moving incident unfolded in St. Paul, Minnesota involving both federal and local law enforcement. As crowds gathered and questions mounted, one of our MPR New...
www.mpr.org
February 14, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Bathrobe lady is MPR reporter/badass Sam Stroozas www.mpr.org/stories/2026...
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
My brother Garry has dementia and is currently lost somewhere in the Chester area. If anyone should spot him please call the police on 999. We'd appreciate reposts. @shitchester.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 8:00 PM
My brother Garry has dementia and is currently lost somewhere in the Chester area. If anyone should spot him please call the police on 999. We'd appreciate reposts. @shitchester.bsky.social
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
This Ancient Egyptian board game is almost 4,000 years old!
Known as ‘Hounds and Jackals’ or ‘Game of 58 holes’, its original name is unknown. It’s suggested it was played in a similar way to ‘Snakes and Ladders’.
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
Known as ‘Hounds and Jackals’ or ‘Game of 58 holes’, its original name is unknown. It’s suggested it was played in a similar way to ‘Snakes and Ladders’.
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
February 14, 2026 at 11:05 AM
This Ancient Egyptian board game is almost 4,000 years old!
Known as ‘Hounds and Jackals’ or ‘Game of 58 holes’, its original name is unknown. It’s suggested it was played in a similar way to ‘Snakes and Ladders’.
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
Known as ‘Hounds and Jackals’ or ‘Game of 58 holes’, its original name is unknown. It’s suggested it was played in a similar way to ‘Snakes and Ladders’.
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Plans to invade Greenland have just been cancelled after this
February 9, 2026 at 6:42 AM
Plans to invade Greenland have just been cancelled after this
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Had a huge lunch at home of Palestinian friends today & their 6 year old daughter came over to whisper to me that at school they all secretly say '67' but the teacher has banned them from saying it especially if they make extra noises 🤔 but says they also sneakily say 'a sé a seacht' 😂 #speirgorm
February 14, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Had a huge lunch at home of Palestinian friends today & their 6 year old daughter came over to whisper to me that at school they all secretly say '67' but the teacher has banned them from saying it especially if they make extra noises 🤔 but says they also sneakily say 'a sé a seacht' 😂 #speirgorm
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
It's Valentines weekend & here's a little story about my now 91-yr old mom for your enjoyment. A while after my dad passed away, an old friend of my parents was in her state & came to see her to reminisce. I happened to be visiting & ducked out as I thought he was... very glad to see mom 😏
February 13, 2026 at 10:07 PM
It's Valentines weekend & here's a little story about my now 91-yr old mom for your enjoyment. A while after my dad passed away, an old friend of my parents was in her state & came to see her to reminisce. I happened to be visiting & ducked out as I thought he was... very glad to see mom 😏
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
In 2021, I reported on an internal meeting at Facebook about discussions to put facial recognition on new smartglasses. One of their execs complained about the coverage and said the co would have a "very public discussion" about the tech.
They never did. And now: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
They never did. And now: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:21 PM
In 2021, I reported on an internal meeting at Facebook about discussions to put facial recognition on new smartglasses. One of their execs complained about the coverage and said the co would have a "very public discussion" about the tech.
They never did. And now: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
They never did. And now: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
If we’re taking these lads at their word — and we shouldn’t — they’re boasting about going to work every day with the goal of removing the livelihood of a billion people
www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-ai...
www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-ai...
Microsoft AI CEO: 'Most, if not all' white-collar tasks can be replaced by AI within 12-18 months
Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft's AI chief, says AI can automate white-collar jobs within 12-18 months, as tech reaches human-level performance in tasks.
www.businessinsider.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:34 PM
If we’re taking these lads at their word — and we shouldn’t — they’re boasting about going to work every day with the goal of removing the livelihood of a billion people
www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-ai...
www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-ai...
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
DHS is being more aggressive than ever targeting anonymous social media accounts that have spoken out against ICE, asking Big Tech to hand over information on users without signed judicial warrants
story w/ @sheeraf.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
story w/ @sheeraf.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 12:28 AM
DHS is being more aggressive than ever targeting anonymous social media accounts that have spoken out against ICE, asking Big Tech to hand over information on users without signed judicial warrants
story w/ @sheeraf.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
story w/ @sheeraf.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Breaking news: Two immigration officers have been suspended and are facing a criminal investigation into whether they lied under oath about the shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis last month.
ICE officers suspended after making ‘untruthful statements’ about shooting
The federal immigration officers are facing a criminal inquiry after new evidence surfaced contradicting their accounts after the Jan. 14 shooting of a Venezuelan man.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Breaking news: Two immigration officers have been suspended and are facing a criminal investigation into whether they lied under oath about the shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis last month.
It's Valentines weekend & here's a little story about my now 91-yr old mom for your enjoyment. A while after my dad passed away, an old friend of my parents was in her state & came to see her to reminisce. I happened to be visiting & ducked out as I thought he was... very glad to see mom 😏
February 13, 2026 at 10:07 PM
It's Valentines weekend & here's a little story about my now 91-yr old mom for your enjoyment. A while after my dad passed away, an old friend of my parents was in her state & came to see her to reminisce. I happened to be visiting & ducked out as I thought he was... very glad to see mom 😏
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
Waiting to go in the window
February 13, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Waiting to go in the window
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
I joined the Times Tech Report to talk about how AI data centers are the next financial crisis. Their massive up-front costs and burdensome debt require perfection - constant tenancy and no missed payments - and capacity is being built for demand that doesn't exist.
youtu.be/iG8kjXN550o?...
youtu.be/iG8kjXN550o?...
AI Bubble: How the data centre crisis risks triggering a financial crash | Ed Zitron
YouTube video by The Tech Report
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I joined the Times Tech Report to talk about how AI data centers are the next financial crisis. Their massive up-front costs and burdensome debt require perfection - constant tenancy and no missed payments - and capacity is being built for demand that doesn't exist.
youtu.be/iG8kjXN550o?...
youtu.be/iG8kjXN550o?...
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
A forensic look on X suggests the wrongful claim about Alan Shatter and Jeffrey Epstein - subsequently shared by Gary Gannon TD, who has now paid damages - was first posted by a little-known ‘news outlet’ solely sharing ethnonationalist content
A vivid example of how disinformation gets to the top
A vivid example of how disinformation gets to the top
February 13, 2026 at 8:03 PM
A forensic look on X suggests the wrongful claim about Alan Shatter and Jeffrey Epstein - subsequently shared by Gary Gannon TD, who has now paid damages - was first posted by a little-known ‘news outlet’ solely sharing ethnonationalist content
A vivid example of how disinformation gets to the top
A vivid example of how disinformation gets to the top
One of the dogs just belched so loudly I could hear her from the next room 😳
February 13, 2026 at 9:04 PM
One of the dogs just belched so loudly I could hear her from the next room 😳
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
we live in a country where the secretary of HHS declaring that he snorts cocaine off toilet seats isn't even a news item
February 13, 2026 at 2:28 PM
we live in a country where the secretary of HHS declaring that he snorts cocaine off toilet seats isn't even a news item
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
SCOOP: ICE is asking Social Security for peoples' in-person appointment dates and times, and SSA staff are being told to give it to them. From me + @leahfeiger.bsky.social + @zoeschiffer.bsky.social @wired.com
wired.com/story/social...
wired.com/story/social...
Social Security Workers Are Being Told to Hand Over Appointment Details to ICE
The recent request goes against decades of precedent, and puts noncitizens at further risk of immigration enforcement actions.
wired.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:19 PM
SCOOP: ICE is asking Social Security for peoples' in-person appointment dates and times, and SSA staff are being told to give it to them. From me + @leahfeiger.bsky.social + @zoeschiffer.bsky.social @wired.com
wired.com/story/social...
wired.com/story/social...
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
I'm pretty sure I know. They aren't. We're not going to really be able to make a lot of progress in dealing with the implications of this tech unless and until we get rid of all this "woo-woo" talk about LLMs. Anthropic pushing this line is PR, unserious.
February 13, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I'm pretty sure I know. They aren't. We're not going to really be able to make a lot of progress in dealing with the implications of this tech unless and until we get rid of all this "woo-woo" talk about LLMs. Anthropic pushing this line is PR, unserious.
Reposted by Karlin Lillington
civil society and right groups orgs that often keep a tab on and organise campaigns against these evil corporations are overstretched and underfunded. this internal memo from Meta is insidious and sickening
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:08 PM
civil society and right groups orgs that often keep a tab on and organise campaigns against these evil corporations are overstretched and underfunded. this internal memo from Meta is insidious and sickening