Digital Rights Ireland

Description

Digital Rights Ireland defends civil, human and legal rights in a digital age. It describes itself as a small, focused organisation with no staff or office. All its funds go directly towards its work. Volunteers and board members carry out that work.

Its activities fall into three areas: legal challenges, work with government and legislators, and public activism. In legal challenges, it brought a constitutional case against the Irish government over blanket retention of internet and telephone records, winning a landmark victory at the European Court of Justice. It has sought leave to intervene as an amicus curiae in related litigation over blocking file-sharing websites.

In work with government and legislators, it gave evidence to Oireachtas committees, including on cyber-bullying and on the Data Protection Bill 2017, to help lawmakers understand online rights issues. In public activism, it explains digital rights issues publicly and helps organise campaigns. It contributes regularly to radio programmes and to print and online publications.

Digital Rights Ireland is a member of European Digital Rights and works with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Privacy International. It is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Kilkenny. Its board of directors includes Dr TJ McIntyre as chair, Antoin Ó Lachtnain and Colm MacCárthaigh, and it is represented by McGarr Solicitors.

It describes itself as an independent, non-profit organisation not influenced by parties other than consumers, with procedures to prevent conflicts of interest. In 2024 it was funded by individual supporters giving less than 200 euro each, plus under 10,000 euro in travel and event support from the Digital Freedom Foundation for litigation-related projects.