Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 10hMeta hosted senior Irish Government officials & regulators at an event titled "Ireland as a Trusted Digital Regulatory Hub". Ireland's former regulator who sued all other EU data regulators to avoid investigating Meta was a speaker. (She now works for Meta's law firm.) lnkd.in/p/dYg9TPnk 22024
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Google event in Brussels this evening “to celebrate Ireland’s Presidency” of the EU Council. “Google is delighted to bring together Irish policymakers…” rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/irish... (they have wisely now removed some of this text) 44036
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Important breakthrough in Europe's icebreaker Big Tech class action opens the path for class actions to hold Big Tech accountable using the GDPR. ICCL v Microsoft class action update... Full decision in link --> enforce.ie/digital-data...enforce.ieICCL secures landmark precedent against Big Tech - EnforceClass action will target “Real-Time Bidding” (RTB) data breach in Microsoft’s advertising system, and is anticipated to affect Microsoft’s operations across the EU 22727
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Ten years after the GDPR was negotiated, Ireland's DPC has today finally completed its *first* ever inquiry into Google (aside from "amicable resolution" trivia). We are still waiting for any outcome from the Google RTB complaint to the DPC in 2018. 44220
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 18/09/2026This is insanity. Irish Presidency's draft text of amendments to the GDPR allows training & operation of any AI without safeguards & tough legal basis (under "legitimate interest" a company claims what it is doing is OK. Up to you to find out and challenge in court). This is a free pass for US Tech. 8193119
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 18/09/2026France is now saying it out loud: tech firms must stop diverting European corporate tax to Ireland www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...irishtimes.comFrench minister wants Ireland to share its technology tax billionsFrench finance minister calls for large tax revenues from tech multinationals to be more fairly distributed across EU 1152
Reposted by Johnny RyanJakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social · 16/09/2026🇨🇦🇪🇺 All those decades of people explaining that Canada is "a mix of an European country and United States" are finally paying off. 1243
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I'll be on Morning Ireland shortly to discuss von der Leyen's #SOTEU announcement about protecting children online and AI. 031
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Job announcement: please come and work with us at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. We want to hire an officer & operations manager. www.iccl.ie/news/vacancy...iccl.ieCould you be ICCL's new Office and Operations Manager?The deadline to apply is 2pm on Friday 2 October 2026. 011
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 04/09/2026This is a fantastic interview. “I’ve never heard anyone trash the very thing they’re here to promote quite like Mr T does today.” Bravo @shattenstone.bsky.social! www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...theguardian.com‘I don’t chase the dollar. I never did’: the astonishing hidden life of Mr THe grew up in the ghetto, became a global superstar – then gave it all up. Why did he step away from the spotlight? 163
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Erik is the CEO of a company that competes against Google in adtech 060
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026The European Commission told Google last year that a breakup of its RTB business is required. The wiggle room is that Google can propose alternatives. (para 2160-1 of doc ec.europa.eu/competition/... ) 184
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Google, proven illegal ad tech monopoly, gets to retain its RTB exchange. This puts it up to European enforcers who have already signalled they want to break Google up, but have waited for the US Court to move first to avoid Trump friction. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/02/t...nytimes.comIn a Big Win, Google Won’t Have to Break Up Its Ad Tech Business, Court RulesIn a long-awaited decision, a federal judge said Google must change its ad tech business to address antitrust issues, but did not disclose the measures. 1126
Reposted by Johnny RyanTony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 01/09/2026FT Editorial on Israel’s de facto annexation of the West Bank www.ft.com/content/9669... 33223
Reposted by Johnny RyanTony - Pod Guy - Groves @tonygroves.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Today the Government will have an emergency Dáil sitting over fuel excise duty. Later today the latest homelessness figures will be announced. A new record, no doubt, with over 7k children in emergency accommodation. But there’ll be no emergency sitting for them. 25131
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Good piece from Ellen O'Regan of POLITICO: “How a 17th-century Irish law is shielding Big Tech from class actions in Europe”. www.politico.eu/article/17th...politico.euHow a 17th-century Irish law is shielding Big Tech from class actions in EuropeIreland has limits on outside funding for court challenges, stopping Europeans from seeking compensation from Big Tech for harms. 0123
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Big piece from @fotoole.bsky.social in this morning's Irish Times, about Ireland's big tech payoff and the harm to children it allows www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026... 1174
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Big piece from Fintan O'Toole in this morning's Irish Times, about Ireland's big tech payoff and the harm to children it allows www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...irishtimes.comWill Ireland continue to take TikTok’s money after M9 crash? Too bloody true we willWe are living off the immoral earnings generated by deliberately addictive and toxic content aimed at children 11311
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 23/08/2026“Apple booked pre-tax profits of $6m per employee in Ireland, compared with just $51,000 per employee in Germany…” (This information is only public now because new EU law forces transparency) www.ft.com/content/65fb...ft.comApple paid $17bn in taxes to Ireland after court ruling on back leviesNew filings highlight iPhone maker’s global tax liabilities 01610
Reposted by Johnny RyanDave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 22/08/2026If only we had leaders with this kind of nerve in Europe. Instead, we get continual surrender to Trump. Even though Europe is much more capable of defending itself from the US than Canada , which is much much more exposed. The difference is courage. Something Europe needs to find.bbc.comCanada says it will match US tariffs 'dollar for dollar' as trade talks break downA new 50% levy on $20bn of Canadian imports comes into force after a last-minute breakdown in trade talks. 22392108
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 21/08/2026This redaction deserves to be challenged. I’d like to see them follow the story to wherever it leads. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...irishtimes.comDetails of Taoiseach’s correspondence with tech giant Apple withheld on security groundsSome of the world’s biggest technology companies lobbied the Government on AI and online safety before Ireland’s EU presidency 040
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026Thomas Piketty Irelands economic model harms other countries, speaking to @naomiohreally.bsky.social in this morning’s Irish Times www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p... 23316
Reposted by Johnny RyanDave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 29/07/2026I'm so tired of EU national leaders talking out of two sides of their mouths - saying the EU should do more and be stronger and then refusing to give it the money and resources necessary to do so. Because they lack the political courage to be honest with citizens about why it is needed.davekeating.substack.comNorthern leaders want to cut an EU budget already on a shoestringEU national leaders keep saying they want a union that “does more.” Then they show up in Brussels asking it to spend less. 0216
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026On 16 July Chinese LLMs reached near parity with top US LLMs. This indicates 3 things: 1. China’s heavy AI regulation (it has at least as much AI law as the EU) did not stop AI innovation. 2. Revoking Biden’s AI Executive Order did not protect US lead. ... 2143
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026As I wrote in my The Economist letter in March, China's heavily regulated LLM industry is catching up on US largely unregulated industry (Kimi 3 has near parity with Claude Opus 5). Safety standards didn't stop Chinese innovation. The EU must reconsider its assumption that deregulation = innovation. 394
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 21/07/2026I'll be speaking in a few minutes at IETF 126, at the Privacy Enhancements and Assessments Research Group datatracker.ietf.org/meeting/126/...datatracker.ietf.orghttps://datatracker.ietf.org/meeting/126/materials/agenda-126-pearg# Privacy Enhancements and Assessments Research Group (PEARG) Agenda - IETF 126 ## Time and Date * Tuesday 21st Jul, 16:30-18:00 CEST (Tuesday 21st Jul 2026 14:30-16:00 UTC) * [IETF Agenda Link](htt... 032
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 16/07/2026"Extremely unpleasant" meetings. Former Irish Data Protection Commissioner on discussion with European colleagues. www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-... 232
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Ireland's Minister for Enterprise met Meta to discuss the "digital agenda for Ireland's EU presidency" at a private dinner at the US ambassador's residence. It was hosted "in partnership with Meta". www.independent.ie/business/min... 1129
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Big interview with @alemanno.bsky.social Alberto Alemanno in Austria’s Die Presse. “Ireland is too pro-American to lead EU meetings neutrally” www.diepresse.com/36404799/irl...diepresse.com„Irland ist zu proamerikanisch, um EU-Treffen neutral zu leiten“Der Europarechtler Alberto Alemann kritisiert Dublin für Interessenkonflikte und fordert Irland auf, sich während seines sechsmonatigen Ratsvorsitzes nicht mit den Themen Digitales und... 01814
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 13/07/2026New York Times on what new EU transparency rules reveal about Microsoft's tax: 40% of all income registered in Ireland, 0.5% registered in Germany. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/03/t... 2158
Reposted by Johnny RyanCecilia Rikap @ceciliarikap.bsky.social · 10/07/2026Our letter demanding the Eau's Irish presidency to recuse itself from digital and fiscal (tax) files is now out at the @financialtimes.com Check it out and help us disseminate it! giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... 0158
Reposted by Johnny RyanAlberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Ireland now chairs the Council of the EU including the digital rulebook & tax reform files it has spent a decade resisting. You can’t referee a game you’re playing in. Here’s our call for Ireland to recuse itself 👇 43124
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Important from prominent EPP MEPs Andreas Schwab @aschwab.bsky.social & Pablo Arias: "Concerns regarding Ireland's historical enforcement of the GDPR and its economic alignment with large non-EU technology firms raise serious questions about its capacity to neutrally oversee these negotiations". 22015
Reposted by Johnny RyanIrish Council for Civil Liberties 🏳️🌈 @iccl.bsky.social · 30/06/202650 years ago today, a group of activists, academics and lawyers gathered in Trinity College Dublin for the inaugural meeting of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. 167
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 03/07/2026My piece in Germany's Süddeutsche Zeitung @sz-dossier.de this morning shows how Ireland's EU presidency is an opportunity for Germany. Unready for a direct confrontation with Trump and US Tech, Berlin an use Ireland as a lever to apply pressure from a distance. www.sueddeutsche.de/dossier/gast...sueddeutsche.deDeutschland und Europa müssen Druck auf Irland ausüben (Gastbeitrag) | SZ DossierDieser Gastbeitrag von Johnny Ryan wurde ursprünglich im Briefing “Digitale Reformpläne” des Dossiers Digitalwende am Freitag, 3. Juli 2026 veröffentlicht. 053
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) had to respond to my piece in The Guardian yesterday morning. But... 191
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Tomorrow, Ireland takes over as EU Council Presidency for six months, when the EU is renegotiating tech and tax rules. In The Guardian this morning I argue it must recuse itself from these discussions because it is so captured by big tech. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comIreland is big tech’s lapdog – and that compromises its EU presidency | Johnny RyanThe country is dependent on the global giants that call Dublin home. Irish ministers can’t be trusted to chair vital European digital sovereignty talks, says Irish civil liberties campaigner Johnny Ry... 719296
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 22/06/2026I am very happy to announce that we have appointed Louise Hooper as Enforce's new AI expert. Louise was a barrister at top London set Garden Court Chambers for more than two decades, and has joined us full time. enforce.ie/staff/louise...enforce.ieLouise Hooper appointed AI Expert - EnforceEnforce has appointed Louise Hooper as AI Expert. She was previously a barrister at London's Garden Court Chambers for two decades. 062
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 17/06/2026A year ago today I said it would not be necessary to contemplate child social media ban if we had faith in our regulators or tech. Strong tools exist but go unused: -AI Act Art 1(b) -GDPR Art 8 and 9 -AVMSD Art 28 (b)(1) -DSA (interim measures, crisis response mechanism) www.iccl.ie/digital-data...iccl.ieICCL Enforce calls for digital enforcement to protect children - Irish Council for Civil LibertiesRemarks of Johnny Ryan at the Media, Internet & Data Protection Bar Association. He called for enforcement of regulation against tech firms. 078
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 16/06/2026The fantastic @caoilfhionn.bsky.social is interviewing former President of Ireland Mary McAleese on stage at ICCL’s 50th anniversary conference right now. 174
Reposted by Johnny RyanSteve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 16/06/2026EU, tech law CJEU: Member States can require age verification for porn, and ban rebroadcast of traffic cop information also ***a website that controls what viewers see via an algorithm is liable for the content*** curia.europa.eu/site/upload/...curia.europa.eu 24343167
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 15/06/20263 day preliminary hearing in ICCL class action v Microsoft tomorrow. In Ireland’s first ever class action, this hearing asks: who bears the burden of proof when big tech uses your data in bizarre & hidden ways? Is it you or they who is required to be transparent about it? enforce.ie/digital-data...enforce.iePreliminary hearing on burden of proof - EnforceClass action will target “Real-Time Bidding” (RTB) data breach in Microsoft’s advertising system, and is anticipated to affect Microsoft’s operations across the EU 02918
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 15/06/20263 day preliminary hearing in ICCL class action v Microsoft starts tomorrow. In Ireland’s first ever class action, this hearing asks: who bears the burden of proof when big tech uses your data in bizarre & hidden ways? Is it you or they who is required to be transparent about it? @iccl.bsky.socialiiccl.bsky.socialBluesky 093
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 05/06/2026I’m making a text adventure game. You wake up on a bench in 2026. You are Paul Baran. Your last memory is 1970. The game is called “A little caution”. 120
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Bravo UK CMA arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...arstechnica.comGoogle ordered to put clearer links in AI search and let UK publishers opt outGoogle must change AI Overviews after claiming users don't want "lots of sources." 063
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026I told Reuters last week that Meta's new employee-surveillance-to-train-AI-to-replace-employees (apparently called the "Model Capability Initiative") is a sign of what is to come every worker, everywhere. We want to hear from Meta employees. www.reuters.com/business/met... 099
Reposted by Johnny RyanUCD Centre for Digital Policy @ucddigitalpolicy.bsky.social · 02/06/2026We are delighted to announce the appointment of @johnnyryan.bsky.social to Adjunct Full Professor at the UCD Centre for Digital Policy! Johnny is a globally recognised expert and scholar whose work and litigation has influenced digital law and policy in Europe and the United States.digitalpolicy.ieJohnny Ryan - UCD Centre for Digital PolicyDr Johnny Ryan (FRHistS) is the Director of Enforce, ICCL's unit holding Big Tech to account under European law. He is the architect of class-action 1113