Lakadaisical Irish government approach to data privacy

Impetus

From today's Times:

"Our Irish legislation had so few limitations that former Irish data protection commissioner Billy Hawkes once gave the example of a cyclist in the Phoenix Park travelling without bike lights but seen talking on a mobile. Because cycling without lights is a crime, Gardaí could request the call records on every individual using a phone at that time within a wide radius of the Phoenix Park.

"The AG’s opinion this week will offer little solace to those in Government and law enforcement who had hoped that the DRI ruling might be just advisory and aspirational but not binding on member states (though post-Brexit, it might cheer those in the UK who want more power to snoop, as the AG’s opinion would make aspects of the UK’s proposed “Snooper’s Charter” – Theresa May’s controversial investigatory powers Bill – unlawful)." She who ran MI5 etc for a decade is now the PM presiding over the Brexit. She who presided over the 2015 version of RIPA (which allows people whose dogs go to the bathroom on the footpath to have the government intelligence book thrown at them thanks to the lax provision of personal data to local authorities etc.")

Hitler was living in the dark ages by comparison in terms of intelligence gathering and misuse.

More:

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/lackadaisical-approach-to-data-privacy-cannot-last-1.2728525