Irish Council for Civil Liberties

Description

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is a membership organisation that defends and promotes civil liberties and human rights in Ireland. It was established on 30 June 1976 to promote human rights, protect civil liberties, recover them where removed, and enlarge them where diminished. ICCL is independent of government, funded by members and donors.

It describes itself as Ireland’s leading human rights organisation, based in Dublin. It works through advocacy, campaigning, research, policy submissions, and media commentary. It monitors human rights and civil liberties in Ireland, informs public opinion, and works to influence decision-making on policing and justice reform, digital and data rights, equality and inclusion, and activism, protest and civil society.

It runs a network of legal observers who monitor protests and policing, and coordinates the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations. ICCL does not give legal advice and has no solicitor on staff, but tries to refer people with general queries to organisations that can help them.

Enforce is ICCL’s digital rights unit, working on GDPR enforcement, antitrust, disinformation, AI regulation, privacy-enhancing technology, and police use of facial recognition, including a current class action against Microsoft. Its staff and fellows advise legislators, including the European Parliament, and are regularly quoted in Irish and international media such as the Irish Times, the Washington Post, and the Guardian.

ICCL is governed by an executive board. It is a company limited by guarantee, and publishes annual reports and audited accounts.