Data Centres
Budget reaction: the quiet triumph of the data centre lobby
In amongst the giveaways, was a opening for the Apple Tax windfall to be siphoned into state subsidies for data centres.
Latest
Apple Tax, Populism, and the Persistent Fallacy that Accountancy is Economics
Tax and tech are entering their accountability era. The Irish State, which has both enabled and benefited from the previous Wild West era, faces the prospect of not just an economic but also a political crisis if it doesn’t adjust.
Internet Culture
The grifter edit: a new pig butchering scam & shilling mascara at an election rally
Connor McGregor announcing he is running for President has me thinking about two epic grifters who have come on my radar recently.
20th newsletter, plus two good stories on tech & housing
Hello! I have a few cool links to share, but first I wanted to add 2 little programming notes. This is my 20th newsletter! The first one went to 38 people back in February, this one will go to just under 500. Thank you for being one of those people
elections
Hope is making a comeback
Michelle Obama's barnstorming speech in Chicago on Tuesday night announced that "hope is making a comeback". It made me nostalgic for "hopey-changey" 2008, staying up all night to watch Obama win, intoxicated by optimism, smugness, and aesthetic agreeableness. In hindsight of course it looks
Internet Culture
From "Happy Slaps" to today's political violence
Are we seeing an unholy alliance between far right radicalisation, and the exhibitionist nihilism that emerged almost as soon as the camera phone did?
Tech policy
Simon Harris has had enough; where will that energy take us?
Simon Harris has come out swinging for Big Tech; a much needed tone shift at the top of Government. But what happens next will determine if we turn around our reputation in Europe, or descend into a pointless beef with a Silicon Valley manchild
Talking points: UK election
I will be achieving a life goal this evening - playing a small role in RTE's coverage of the UK election count. I'm sharing some talking points I may get to share and am very interested in feedback - you can comment on this post, or
elections
ICYMI: The Splinternet election
A recent Op-Ed; an overview of the Irish online campaign that looks at what our fracturing internet means for campaigning and politics in 2024 in Ireland and the rest of the world
elections
Shuttershock: Ad spend roundup, plus last minute shenanigans
Happy Voting Eve. A last pre-election round up, bringing together as best anyone can spend data from the Meta and Google ad archives. Plus, a collection of election news covered by other people
Update: The Briefing investigation leading the Irish Times, plus TikTok replies
A quick update on the investigation shared with you this morning; you can now read TikTok's reply in The Irish Times, who are leading with the story, and I will paste the company's response below too. They are sticking to their line that they ban political
Political Ads
Investigation: TikTok is failing to comply with EU rules on political ads
Our investigation shows multiple candidates are running ads on TikTok for Ireland's election, despite the company's claims to block political ads. TikTok is both not enforcing its own policies, AND, failing to comply with EU rules.