Tag: eu

Coimisiún na Meán opens review of online platforms’ compliance with EU Digital Services Act

Coimisiún na Meán is concerned that people are having difficulty reporting illegal content to online platforms. Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms are required to act on reports of illegal content in line with the law. This concern comes following an initial review, alongside information gathered from An Coimisiún’s Contact Centre and complaints passed on by other European regulators. An Coimisiún is now initiating a formal review of online platforms’ systems, to ensure that the platforms are complying with their obligations under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).

Under the DSA, online platforms must have easy to access and user-friendly ways for users to report illegal content (Article 16 of the DSA). They must also have a clear and accessible point of contact for users to contact them (Article 12). Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for making sure that all platforms with their EU headquarters in Ireland follow these rules, while working closely with the European Commission and other online safety regulators across Europe.

Coimisiún na Meán has now issued formal requests for information to a range of platforms for further comprehensive detail on their approach to reporting options for illegal content and points of contact for users. Once the information gathering phase is complete, Coimisiún na Meán will engage with the platforms to ensure that their reporting mechanisms and point of contacts comply with the requirements of the DSA. Where concerns remain, Coimisiún na Meán can issue a compliance notice directing platforms to address any shortcomings identified in their systems and processes. If this does not lead to changes and improvements, An Coimisiún can open a formal investigation. If the investigation leads to a finding of non-compliance, Coimisiún na Meán can impose sanctions, such as a fine. An Coimisiún can also enter into a binding commitment agreement with a platform, in which the platform gives undertakings to bring its behaviour into line with the law.

John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said “The DSA is a landmark law aimed at creating a safer and fairer online environment for users. However, its effectiveness for Irish and EU citizens hinges on the full implementation of its provisions by platforms. Of the complaints we have from people in Ireland and across Europe about online platforms, one in three are about problems when reporting illegal content online. We are intervening now to ensure that platforms follow the rules so that people can effectively exercise their rights under the DSA.’’

Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said “We are committed to using the full range of powers available under our Online Safety Framework to hold platforms to account for keeping people safe online. Through the DSA, our upcoming Online Safety Code and the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation, we are working towards a digital landscape where adults and children can go online without fear of being harmed by the content or behaviour they come across. When people see illegal content, they should report it to the platform where they saw it and if they aren’t satisfied with the platform’s response, or if they can’t find an easy way to report the content, they should get in touch with us.”

The platforms being contacted at this point are:

Info

 

 

Platform Article 12 Article 16
TikTok Yes Yes
X Yes Yes – where there is no overlap with ongoing European Commission investigation
YouTube Yes Yes
Meta Yes No, subject to an ongoing European Commission investigation
LinkedIn Yes Yes
Temu Yes Yes
Pinterest Yes Yes
Shein Yes No, subject to an ongoing European Commission review
Etsy Yes Yes
Dropbox Yes Yes
Hostelworld Yes Yes
Tumblr Yes Yes

An Post Mobile Extends Market-Leading €12.99 Prepay Plan until October 31st

An Post Mobile, the value prepaid mobile network from An Post,  has extended its market-leading €12.99 mobile plan until October 31st. Plan benefits include 50GB of data, 500 any network minutes, 25GB EU and UK Roaming data and 300 minutes and texts to An Post customers all ‘locked in’ for life.  An Post Mobile operates on one of Ireland’s most reliable mobile networks, with unrivalled 99% 4G coverage nationwide ensuring An Post Mobile customers are always connected.
According to Amanda Campbell, Director at An Post Mobile “The average Irish mobile phone user consumes 13.6GB of data per month and our prepay plan has been designed with peoples actual usage in mind, offering 50GB of data which is three and a half times the average monthly usage. Inflation might be slowing but costs are still extremely high across the board for Irish consumers – this plan gives them everything they need and more at prices they can afford. The plan is easy to set up, with no set-up fees, bills, or contracts meaning our customers are always in control, with peace of mind that the €12.99 price is locked for life with no hidden fees or increases.”
‘Locked for Life’ Benefits
Includes 50GB of data and 500 any-network minutes in addition to 300 minutes and 300 texts with other An Post Mobile customers as well as 25GB EU & UK roaming data and 300 minutes. Customers can watch video content, listen to music, keep connected in their group chats, make Zoom calls, and browse Instagram and Twitter – all for €12.99 per month, for life.
Ease of topping-up
An Post mobile also makes topping hassle-free with their ‘Auto Top-Up’ option allowing customers to pick a day in the month when their account can be automatically topped up. This can be cancelled or changed anytime, and An Post is offering €10 free credit to customers on their first top-up.
Roaming Benefits
The plan ensures that customers can stay connected to loved ones overseas or when travelling abroad with 25GB EU and UK Roaming data and 300 minutes included in the deal. If required customers can also easily add on international minutes to their plan with 100 international minutes available for €5, or 400 international minutes for €15.
Customer Care
An Post Mobile customers have quick and easy access to An Post’s Dublin-based Customer Care experts by phone, email or Web Chat should they need help with their plan or handset with support and advice also available through the extensive Post Office network.
The €12.99 sim-only preplan is available as a limited offer until October 31st online or at any of the 900+ post offices across the country, open 6 days a week.
Further information about this plan and other An Post mobile plans on AnPost.com/Mobile.
An Post also offer a suite of mobile handsets which can be ordered in all post offices nationwide.

Irish-led wave energy project gets go ahead from EU

A €19.6 million partnership project, which aims to be the stepping stone towards large scale wave energy commercialisation, has received formal go-ahead from the European Union.

WEDUSEA is a pioneering collaboration between 14 partners, spanning industry and academia from across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Spain. It is co-ordinated by the Irish company OceanEnergy.

The project is co-funded by the EU Horizon Europe Programme and by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.  

In common with all other Horizon Europe projects, WEDUSEA has undergone a comprehensive independent review by EU appointed external experts following its initial project design period to ensure the technical designs and all plans, budgets and protocols are fully in place and approved.

The green light has now been received from the EU and the project can proceed to its next stage.

The WEDUSEA project will demonstrate a grid connected 1MW OE35 floating wave energy converter at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) wave energy test site at Billia Croo in Orkney, Scotland. A rigorous technical and environmental demonstration will happen over a two-year period in Atlantic wave conditions.

OceanEnergy has developed the OE35, which is the world’s largest capacity floating wave energy device. Floating on the ocean’s surface, the device incorporates a trapped air volume, with the lower part open to the sea. Wave pressures at the submerged opening cause the water to oscillate and drive the trapped air through a turbine to generate electricity. Electricity generated will be exported to the UK grid via EMEC’s subsea cables. 

Prof Tony Lewis, Chief Technical Officer at OceanEnergy, says: “Wave energy is the world’s most valuable renewable resource with around 30TWh of potential annual production waiting to be harnessed. That’s almost ten times Europe’s annual electricity consumption. However, this potential has yet to be fully realised. The project will demonstrate that wave technology is on a cost reduction trajectory and will thus be a stepping stone to larger commercial array scale up and further industrialisation. We predict that the natural energy of the world’s oceans will one day supply much of the grid.” 

The WEDUSEA project has three phases. The first phase is the initial design and build of a device suited to the ocean conditions at EMEC’s Billia Croo wave energy test site. This will be followed by the demonstration at the site, lasting two years. The final phase will be commercialisation and dissemination which sees the capitalisation and exploitation of the results. 

Matthijs Soede from the European Commission said at the start of the project: “WEDUSEA is set to be a major catalyst for the wave energy industry, unlocking the full potential of this exciting renewable technology. 

 

Prof Lars Johanning of University of Plymouth says: “The WEDUSEA partnership has worked hard to ensure that all detailed designs and planning are robust, to prove that the project is viable and that the project will be delivered within budget. Now we have received the green light from the EU, it’s all systems go!”

The wave converter build starts in the second half of 2024 and the demonstration at EMEC is expected to begin in June 2025.

 

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This international partnership comprises the following 14 organisations:

  1. OCEAN ENERGY (NEW WAVE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED) – IRELAND 
  2. INNOSEA – FRANCE
  3. ADVANCED SIMULATION TECHNOLOGIES – SPAIN
  4. FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV – GERMANY
  5. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CORK – IRELAND
  6. GAVIN AND DOHERTY GEOSOLUTIONS LTD – IRELAND
  7. EXCEEDENCE LTD – IRELAND
  8. WOOD – IRELAND
  9. HYDRO GROUP PLC – UK
  10. THE EUROPEAN MARINE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE – UK
  11. LONGITUDE CONSULTING ENGINEERS LIMITED – UK
  12. UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH- UK
  13. INNOSEA LTD – UK
  14. GREEN MARINE (UK) LTD -UK 

The website is www.wedusea.eu

Teen-Turn launch 2024 summer work experience programme

Teen-Turn,  an EU wide digital impact organisation of the year, connects girls from underrepresented communities with women who are STEM role models at Ireland’s leading companies for summer work placements called “Teenturnships” in order to tackle the deficit of young women in STEM.

This year, Teen-Turn’s program commenced with 81 girls being introduced to their mentors. These mentors are accomplished women who are STEM professionals, including engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity and AI specialists, and senior managers from prominent companies such as Dell, BNY Mellon, Hostelworld, BD, Aptiv, Bearing Point, and Trane Technologies Thermoking.

The participating girls, from DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), rural, and underserved schools across Ireland, will engage in a two-week immersive experience in August. During this period, they will work on STEM projects under the guidance of their women-in-STEM mentors, gaining firsthand experience.

Teen-Turn believes that more girls, from areas where third level education is uncommon, exploring and gaining an interest in STEM will lead to more women earning STEM qualifications, therefore meeting a demand for skills that is outpacing supply.

Throughout the program, participants will learn from their mentors and engage in various activities each workday. Additionally, they will document and share their experiences through blogging, providing insights into their journey and the impact of the program.

New app launched to inform Irish citizens about European Parliament Elections

A new app aiming to help European citizens engage with the upcoming European Parliament elections has gone live on May 9th to coincide with Europe Day. 

The EU&I app aims to help EU citizens navigate the upcoming European Parliament elections, taking place in June. The app provides a comprehensive platform to help voters explore and understand the positions of both Irish political parties and independent candidates competing in the European elections.

When they visit the EU&I web app, users are prompted to indicate their political preferences through a questionnaire, which generates personalised insights about which political parties and candidates align best with the voter’s values and beliefs.

Available in 20 languages with 36 policy statements, the EU&I Voter app offers users an extensive guide on a range of topics central to European politics, including economic policies, environmental initiatives, and social justice issues. It also allows users to explore party/candidate views on Ireland’s position in Europe and beyond. 

The creators of the app are hoping that this new development will encourage Irish citizens to vote in the upcoming elections taking place on the 7th of June. 

Commenting on the launch of the app, Team Ireland lead, and Associate Professor at UCD, Dr James Cross said: “We are delighted to officially launch our new app EU&I ahead of the European elections. This app provides an excellent educational platform to empower Irish voters, which will, in turn, allow them to make informed decisions about the future of Europe. A group of our master’s students from different disciplines here at UCD have been working tirelessly to compile information about the election and its candidates. They have made this information accessible to our app users, contributing to a Europe-wide effort to inform voters. By harnessing the power of technology, we aim to empower voters to make informed decisions when entering the ballot box this June.”

UCD Master’s Student Aaron Kelly added: “By making this political information readily available for app users, we aim to inform the general public on one simple, accessible platform. This helpful tool eliminates political jargon while providing a wealth of information for citizens as well as for politicians themselves. It is a free resource that provides a personalised and exhaustive political guide for users, and we hope that it will encourage more people to get out and use their vote in June.

The official launch of EU&I Voter took place on the 14th of May at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. A panel discussion featuring Dr. Laura Sudulich from the University of Exeter, Dr. Kevin Cunningham Director of Ireland Thinks and Patrick O’Riordan from Dublin Office of the European Parliament on pressing issues faced by the EU was held, as well as a live demonstration of the app.  

 

1 in 3 financial service organisations falling behind in preparation for new EU rules to fight cybercrime

In advance of the European Anti-Financial Crime Summit taking place in Dublin tomorrow at the RDS, the Compliance Institute is calling on Ireland’s financial services organisations to ramp up their efforts in getting up to speed on their obligations under new EU rules and the enforcement of the Digital Operations Resilience Act (DORA).

Published in the Official Journal of the EU on December 27, 2022, DORA is set to be fully applicable from January 2025 onward and establishes a regulatory framework for digital operational resilience in the financial sector. This Directive addresses the digital operational risk of financial entities regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and is the first of its kind aimed at preventing and mitigating cyber threats.

According to a recent survey from the Compliance Institute, almost one in three (32pc) financial service organisations in Ireland have not yet begun to prepare for new EU rules which will help them prevent and mitigate cyber-attacks – one of the most prevalent types of financial crime in Ireland, despite it being only seven-and-a-half months before the new rules come into force.

Commenting on the findings, Michael Kavanagh, CEO of the Compliance Institute said:

“This Summit is an important date in the financial services sector calendar for 2024. The forum fosters and prompts discussion and debate on some of the biggest challenges facing Ireland’s financial organisations.

Ireland is now Europe’s largest data hosting cluster, putting the need for elevated cybercrime and data protection systems into sharp focus. Regulators need to ask themselves how they can regulate and supervise without stifling innovation. Businesses and organisations need to ask how they can best prepare and respond, and the general public also needs to know what measures they can take to protect themselves”.

Cybercrime

In a separate survey conducted by the Compliance Institute of 230 compliance professionals in financial services organisations nationwide at the end of 2023, hacking, phishing, online scams, and other variations of cybercrime were found to be the most prevalent financial crimes in Ireland (See Appendix).

Mr. Kavanagh went on to say,

“Cybercrime is developing and advancing at a pace so fast that organisations and legislators cannot keep up. These attacks can have catastrophic consequences not just for those whom they are perpetrated against, but for the wider public. We only have to look at the devastation that was caused to patients following the 2021 hacking of the HSE to understand the severity of the crimes.

Regulators in Ireland, and around the world, are constantly updating and issuing new guidance to firms in response to emerging cyber security issues, such as fake documentation and the reliability of information sources”.

DORA

Mr. Kavanagh explained,

“The main objective of DORA is to prevent and mitigate cyber threats and ensure that financial entities can withstand, respond to, and recover from all types of ICT-related disruptions and threats. So, there are clearly huge benefits and protections in store for both financial institutions and consumers alike as a result of these new rules coming on board – provided the rules are complied with”.

Other headline findings from the Compliance Institute survey reveal that:

  • More than half (54pc) of compliance professionals in the financial services sector have limited awareness of the new rules
  • About one in eight (14pc) have no awareness of the new rules
  • Less than half (46pc) are familiar with the new rules.

Mr Kavanagh added:

“Figures published by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) earlier this year show there was a 26pc jump in fraudulent scams in the first six months of 2023. The particular scams involved here were authorised push payment (APP) fraud, involving online and mobile banking transfers, with victims conned out of a total of €8.6 million in the first half of 2023.

While the internet and tech are woven into the very fabric of our lives and have brought untold benefits to how we live our lives, they have also brought many dangers. And it’s incumbent on all financial institutions to educate themselves on – and take – the steps necessary to protect themselves and their consumers as much as possible from the dangers of cybercrime. The rules laid out under DORA have been designed with this objective in mind. We would hope that the next few months will see a bridge in the knowledge gap that currently exists around DORA and what it means for Irish organisations. It is important that all businesses and financial services organisations play their part and follow the lead of regulators so that they – and the wider economy – are in a position to withstand the growing incidence and severity of cybercrime.”

 

New EU project focusses on fighting online manipulation and interference

Researchers from ADAPT, Dr. Brendan Spillane (UCD) and Prof. Owen Conlan (TCD), have announced their involvement in a new Horizon Europe project named ATHENA. This €3.1 million Horizon Europe project, titled “An exposition on THe forEign informatioN mAnipulation and interference,” aims to detect and analyse disinformation associated with Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). The work of the ATHENA project is crucial for the protection of democratic processes in Europe in light of recent FIMI campaigns using disinformation and the surge in cyber-attacks originating from countries like Russia and China.

The project’s primary goal is to understand the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures employed by perpetrators in these activities and to provide policymakers and stakeholders with ATHENA the necessary tools for combating FIMI and disinformation. This will enable the project to develop countermeasures and evaluate their impact.

ADAPT researchers contributions to ATHENA include in depth case study explorations of known FIMI campaigns in Europe, the creation of a FIMI detection platform including a toolbox for analysis, a knowledge graph to store the data, and a dynamic dashboard to enable European policy makers to monitor FIMI activities to devise effective counter-strategies. ATHENA will additionally conduct a comparative legal and regulatory analysis of how eight EU Member States address FIMI, identifying areas where policy enhancement is feasible. The consortium will devise an accessible questionnaire for public utilisation, enabling individuals to recognise encounters with FIMI in their daily lives.

Dr Brendan Spillane highlighted ADAPT’s significant experience of research into disinformation: “The research being undertaken by ADAPT researchers in ATHENA builds on their coordination from another Horizon Europe VIGILANT project (https://www.vigilantproject.eu/) which will equip European Police Authorities with technology to detect, analyse and combat disinformation linked to criminal activities, and a previous H2020 project called PROVENANCE which developed technology to warn end users of disinformation when using the Internet or social media.

Engagement with stakeholders is a key aspect of the project, as ATHENA will engage a diverse range of stakeholders in interviews and workshops. Additionally, ATHENA will focus on knowledge dissemination and training in universities and schools, amplifying widespread awareness of FIMI and fostering defences against it.

Dr. David Wright from Trilateral Research, coordinator of the Project said: “The ATHENA project is not just a response to current threats but a proactive step towards a more secure digital future for Europe”.

“Disinformation spread as part of FIMI campaigns has the potential to negatively impact societal values and undermine political processes. ATHENA will develop advanced AI-informed countermeasures and playbooks to help policy makers combat FIMI.”, said Prof. Owen Conlan from Trinity College Dublin and ADAPT.

ATHENA involves 14 partners including Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH, Greece), the University of Cyprus (UCY), the Bavarian Police Academy (Germany), the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Fundació Eurecat (Spain), Storyzy (France), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), the European Organisation for Security (Belgium), Maldita (Spain), EU-Disinfo (Belgium) and University College Dublin (Ireland).

Artificial Intelligence: Irish organisations urged to become ‘more familiar’ with future EU legislation

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is urging organisations, especially businesses, to become more familiar with upcoming EU legislation around artificial intelligence (AI). As Ireland’s official standards body, it is also encouraging organisations across the country to get more involved in the sector by helping develop future international AI standards.

To support Irish enterprises, NSAI is teaming up with Danish Standards and European Committees for Standardisation (CEN and CENELEC*) to jointly host a webinar on Friday, November 24th called: ‘Future EU legislation on AI and the important role standards play.’ The event is an initiative under the new European Commission High Level Forum on Standardisation and will feature speakers from the European Commission, national standardisation bodies and companies such as Ireland’s SoapBox Labs.

The use of AI in the EU will be regulated by the upcoming AI Act, which has been described as the world’s first comprehensive AI law. Becoming more familiar with that piece of legislation is a recommended step for all Irish organisations, says Marita Kinsella, Head of Innovation Policy and Business Development with NSAI. She said: “To successfully implement the AI Act, it’s critical for organisations and businesses in Ireland to know what practical implications the AI Act will have for them and also importantly, how they can help influence the development of future standards around AI.”

Earlier this year, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond T.D. and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary T.D., launched the AI Standards and Assurance Roadmap with the NSAI.

The roadmap is a key deliverable under Ireland’s National AI Strategy and is a significant step in ensuring that Ireland is at the forefront of change. Its aim is to support Irish enterprises and organisations in embracing AI safely and ethically, through utilising AI standards that are published and in development.

“All types of organisations, such as state agencies, businesses, non-governmental organisations and academic bodies, are encouraged to contribute to the development of future international AI standards,” said Kinsella.

She added: “In Ireland, for example, organisations can engage with our national committee or can have their say on draft standards through the ‘Your Standards, Your Say’ portal on the NSAI website.”

The webinar on November 24th runs from 10am to 12pm, Central European Time, and bookings can be made through the Danish Standards’ website at https://www.ds.dk/da/ydelser/kurser/future-eu-legislation-on-ai-and-the-important-role-standards-play

Almost 8 in 10 Irish people against EU plans to allow 16-year-olds to drive

Almost eight in ten (77pc) Irish people are against new EU plans to allow children as young as 16 to get behind the wheel.

This is according to the findings of a new survey[1] by Peopl Insurance which examined attitudes towards a new proposal by the European Commission to allow children as young 16 to drive, as long as the vehicle is adapted with a speed limiting device set to a maximum speed of 45km. The proposal is part of major revision of EU driving rules[2] being discussed by the European Council and European Parliament.

Headline findings from the Peopl survey, published in the run-up to World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 19, which will see President Michael D Higgins hosting a private reception at Áras an Uachtaráin this week to mark the day[3], found that:

  • Most people (77pc) believe that 16 is too young an age to drive and that there would be an increase in road collisions if people of this age were allowed to legally get behind the wheel.
  • More than one in five (23pc) support the proposal citing that it would allow young people to become more independent.
  • Those age 21 – 24 (31pc) as well as Dubliners (29pc) are most likely to support the new rule to lower the minimum legal driving age to 16
  • Those aged 35 to 44 (19pc) are least likely to be in favour of the proposal.

Commenting on the survey findings, Paul Walsh, CEO of People Insurance said:

“The European Commission has put forward the proposal to allow 16-year-olds to drive as a way of addressing mobility issues in remote areas[4}. So there are likely to be some who would welcome such a move, particularly those living in isolated rural areas. However, the proposal has proved controversial and led to concerns that such a move would simply add to the dangers on Irish roads – as borne out by the results of our survey, which found that the majority of Irish people do not believe it would be safe to allow children aged 16 to drive. Interestingly though, Dubliners were more likely to support the measure than those living in Ulster, Munster and Connacht.

In a year when the number of fatalities on Irish roads is hitting record highs[5], when pedestrian road deaths in Ireland are estimated to be at their highest in 15 years[6], and when more than twice as many children up to the age of 15 have been killed on Irish roads[7] than was the case in 2022, it is understandable that there is such widespread disquiet about the new proposal.”

Other highlights to emerge from the Peopl survey include:

  • Those living in Ulster are most opposed to the plan to allow 16-year-olds to drive: 90pc of Ulster people living in the Republic of Ireland and 100pc of Ulster people living in Northern Ireland were against the proposed measure.

Further commenting, Mr Walsh said:

“The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) – whose members include the Road Safety Authority in Ireland  – recently called on the European Commission to drop the proposal that would allow children aged 16 to drive[8].

It is clear that this new proposal needs to be considered carefully before it is introduced. But in addition, clearly more needs to be done at national level to alert young people to the dangers of driving on Irish roads – and to educate them around how they can drive more safely.”

[1] Conducted by iReach of 1000 adults nationwide.

2 As per European Commission proposal published on March 1, 2023

3 As per RSA releases here and here

4 See pg 11 of European Commission proposal published on March 1, 2023

5 See RSA Statement of August 1, 2023

6 As per RSA release of October 25, 2023
7 The number of children aged 0-15 years killed on Irish roads in the first nine months of 2023 is 12 compared to 5 in all of 2022, according to RSA statistics released on October 6, 2023.

8 As per ETSC statement of late April 2023.