Simon McGarr
@tupped.bsky.social
Solicitor, consultant, artist, writes TheGist.ie newsletter.
Visiting Lecturer. External Examiner in Data Protection law.
Visiting Lecturer. External Examiner in Data Protection law.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
Irish watchdog opens EU data probe into Grok sexual AI imagery
Irish watchdog opens EU data probe into Grok sexual AI imagery
The inquiry concerns potential breaches of the bloc’s General Data Protection Regulation
dlvr.it
February 17, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Irish watchdog opens EU data probe into Grok sexual AI imagery
We should ask for our gold and stuff back. I’d let them keep their large collection of RDS entrance tokens, though.
February 17, 2026 at 7:44 AM
We should ask for our gold and stuff back. I’d let them keep their large collection of RDS entrance tokens, though.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
Reposted by Simon McGarr
Here it is, your moment of zen.
February 17, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Here it is, your moment of zen.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
One of my fave short stories I've ever created, this one in tandem with the illustrious and masterful @dustinweaver.bsky.social. It's... The Adventures of Thing Thing: The Blue Cheese Affair.
February 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
One of my fave short stories I've ever created, this one in tandem with the illustrious and masterful @dustinweaver.bsky.social. It's... The Adventures of Thing Thing: The Blue Cheese Affair.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has announced that it has opened an inquiry into X Internet Unlimited Company (XIUC).
February 17, 2026 at 1:41 AM
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has announced that it has opened an inquiry into X Internet Unlimited Company (XIUC).
Reposted by Simon McGarr
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
February 16, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
The hooded monks who usually walk up and down this stairs were off that day.
"Watch that last step!"
Pretty much all home, interior, remodel, real estate, vacation getaway, tiny house posts on FB are this trash.
Pretty much all home, interior, remodel, real estate, vacation getaway, tiny house posts on FB are this trash.
February 16, 2026 at 11:45 PM
The hooded monks who usually walk up and down this stairs were off that day.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
What could go wrong using AI to help stage a few listing photos?
February 16, 2026 at 10:10 PM
What could go wrong using AI to help stage a few listing photos?
"Anthropic is prepared to loosen its current terms of use, but wants to ensure its tools aren't used to spy on Americans en masse, or to develop weapons that fire with no human involvement.
The Pentagon claims that's unduly restrictive"
Sorry, what?
www.axios.com/2026/02/16/a...
The Pentagon claims that's unduly restrictive"
Sorry, what?
www.axios.com/2026/02/16/a...
Exclusive: Pentagon warns Anthropic will "pay a price" as feud escalates
The Pentagon may label Anthropic a "supply chain risk," forcing all its vendors to sever ties.
www.axios.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:41 PM
"Anthropic is prepared to loosen its current terms of use, but wants to ensure its tools aren't used to spy on Americans en masse, or to develop weapons that fire with no human involvement.
The Pentagon claims that's unduly restrictive"
Sorry, what?
www.axios.com/2026/02/16/a...
The Pentagon claims that's unduly restrictive"
Sorry, what?
www.axios.com/2026/02/16/a...
Reposted by Simon McGarr
Let me stress: banning over-60s from social media is a terrible idea. It's just not as terrible an idea as banning under-16s.
February 16, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Let me stress: banning over-60s from social media is a terrible idea. It's just not as terrible an idea as banning under-16s.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
The government has discovered regulating social media is Hard (it's good at passing Tough Laws and then useless at enforcing them), so it's now going for the much easier job of just restricting the freedom of teenagers.
February 16, 2026 at 10:01 AM
The government has discovered regulating social media is Hard (it's good at passing Tough Laws and then useless at enforcing them), so it's now going for the much easier job of just restricting the freedom of teenagers.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
Since the government is about to introduce a social media ban for under-16s based largely on vibes – and Jonathan Haidt's shitty book – in the hopes it boosts its popularity (it won't), I'll re-up this.
If we're banning under-16s, why not over-60s?
If we're banning under-16s, why not over-60s?
On almost everything – fraud, polarisation, radicalisation, misinformation – evidence suggests that over 60s are in much more urgent need of online protection and education than teenagers.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
This was a minor story on London news this morning - but suspect is a real cautionary (and alarming) tale of an older man getting radicalised online.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
February 16, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Since the government is about to introduce a social media ban for under-16s based largely on vibes – and Jonathan Haidt's shitty book – in the hopes it boosts its popularity (it won't), I'll re-up this.
If we're banning under-16s, why not over-60s?
If we're banning under-16s, why not over-60s?
“I asked ChatGPT what to do in my litigation and it didn’t agree with you.”
“what’s the quick way to learn this thing?” “you can’t, it’s an entire field of study, people spend years on it” “right, so just point me to an entry-level primer that gets me 80% there?” “there isn’t one, most people go to school for this” “sure, but just give me the shortcut”
February 16, 2026 at 10:38 PM
“I asked ChatGPT what to do in my litigation and it didn’t agree with you.”
Reposted by Simon McGarr
“what’s the quick way to learn this thing?” “you can’t, it’s an entire field of study, people spend years on it” “right, so just point me to an entry-level primer that gets me 80% there?” “there isn’t one, most people go to school for this” “sure, but just give me the shortcut”
February 16, 2026 at 8:36 PM
“what’s the quick way to learn this thing?” “you can’t, it’s an entire field of study, people spend years on it” “right, so just point me to an entry-level primer that gets me 80% there?” “there isn’t one, most people go to school for this” “sure, but just give me the shortcut”
Reposted by Simon McGarr
RTE coming off wierdly suspicious of Robert Duvall's wife here.
February 16, 2026 at 7:28 PM
RTE coming off wierdly suspicious of Robert Duvall's wife here.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
Some time around the turn of the century the worst aspects of jock and nerd were fused, creating a new type of guy, who ruined everything
February 16, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Some time around the turn of the century the worst aspects of jock and nerd were fused, creating a new type of guy, who ruined everything
Reposted by Simon McGarr
It just wouldn't occur to me to complain to Met Eireann if it rained when they said it wouldn't, like it's the weather - a moveable, changeable beast that can never really be fully predicted ahead of time.
February 15, 2026 at 8:03 PM
It just wouldn't occur to me to complain to Met Eireann if it rained when they said it wouldn't, like it's the weather - a moveable, changeable beast that can never really be fully predicted ahead of time.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
We must, as a society, bully these nerds
Token Anxiety
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
February 15, 2026 at 4:14 PM
We must, as a society, bully these nerds
Reposted by Simon McGarr
I should also say, I fully expect the UK government to ban under 16s from social media, and to ban them from using VPNs.
They'll do it, to get great headlines, but in the process ruin the lives of some marginalised teens and make most kids less safe.
They'll do it, to get great headlines, but in the process ruin the lives of some marginalised teens and make most kids less safe.
February 16, 2026 at 8:35 AM
I should also say, I fully expect the UK government to ban under 16s from social media, and to ban them from using VPNs.
They'll do it, to get great headlines, but in the process ruin the lives of some marginalised teens and make most kids less safe.
They'll do it, to get great headlines, but in the process ruin the lives of some marginalised teens and make most kids less safe.
Reposted by Simon McGarr
A protest is planned against the Hoxton Hotel after it sought an injunction against the popular nightlife spot Yamamori Izakaya due to noise levels.
On Friday, the hotel said the two sides have agreed to work on sound testing together over the weekend in order to come to a solution.
jrnl.ie/6958261
On Friday, the hotel said the two sides have agreed to work on sound testing together over the weekend in order to come to a solution.
jrnl.ie/6958261
Protest planned at Hoxton Hotel after it seeks injunction against bar next door over noise levels
‘The onus is on the newcomer to make sure they’re not going to have this kind of retrospective ‘nimbyism’ when it comes to existing nightclubs and venues.’
jrnl.ie
February 16, 2026 at 7:57 AM
A protest is planned against the Hoxton Hotel after it sought an injunction against the popular nightlife spot Yamamori Izakaya due to noise levels.
On Friday, the hotel said the two sides have agreed to work on sound testing together over the weekend in order to come to a solution.
jrnl.ie/6958261
On Friday, the hotel said the two sides have agreed to work on sound testing together over the weekend in order to come to a solution.
jrnl.ie/6958261
“While the government recognises that there is a well known problem, it would like to solve for some other problem it is having. So it will now make a leap across the two issues and hope you do not notice.”
UK Government: “Infinite Scrolling leads to CSAM”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/145712
#OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #ofcom
https://alecmuffett.com/article/145712
#OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #ofcom
UK Government: “Infinite Scrolling leads to CSAM”
“That means being able to act quickly on measures like setting a minimum age limit for social media and restricting features like infinite scrolling that are harmful, in line with the consult…
alecmuffett.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:26 AM
“While the government recognises that there is a well known problem, it would like to solve for some other problem it is having. So it will now make a leap across the two issues and hope you do not notice.”
Reposted by Simon McGarr
it's telling that they don't want to address the real cause of most social media problems: microtargeted ads based on constant tracking. better to attack the defenceless children...
UK Government: “Infinite Scrolling leads to CSAM”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/145712
#OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #ofcom
https://alecmuffett.com/article/145712
#OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #ofcom
UK Government: “Infinite Scrolling leads to CSAM”
“That means being able to act quickly on measures like setting a minimum age limit for social media and restricting features like infinite scrolling that are harmful, in line with the consult…
alecmuffett.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:23 AM
it's telling that they don't want to address the real cause of most social media problems: microtargeted ads based on constant tracking. better to attack the defenceless children...
Reposted by Simon McGarr
