Where is the Sinn Fein digital campaign?
With just over 2 weeks to go, we expect parties to be ramping up their ad spend. Fine Gael are, but Sinn Fein have yet to start a General Election digital campaign, at least on the paid side.
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GE2024: Simon Harris here, and here, and here, and...
Election day is confirmed, and the money flows - and videos of high-fiving children - have commenced.
We don't have to wake up like this again in 4 weeks (or 4 years) time
In Ireland we have our own election in less than 4 weeks time, and this time we will have a vote, and we have agency over how that election goes.
Canvassers: our secret weapon against online & financial distortion
I was asked on the This Week programme yesterday to talk through the digital campaign. We only had 6 minutes (you can listen back here - including about Fine Gael's new ad push), but I wanted to make sure I squeezed in an acknowledgment of the work that
Did AI hallucinate a Halloween Parade and put hundreds of people on Dublin's streets? {Updated}
Last night hundreds of people gathered on Dublin's O'Connell St to watch a Halloween Parade that did not exist; a spookily well timed rise of the Zombie Internet?
3 things that are more interesting than that Taylor Swift video
Let me convince you that at least 3 things are more interesting than the Taylor Swift endorsement deep/cheap/creepfake (which of course is just copying what Trump did, also for attention). These 3 things relate to political finance: 1. One party is spending 80% more in the run up
The Shadow Campaign has Begun, and Deepfake Vs. Cheapfake
Revealing "shadow campaigns" and how AI-driven “deepfake” tools are reshaping political messaging and authenticity.
GE2024: What we're covering, and how can you help
It looks like we are either 6 or 7 weeks out from the General Election. I am in full planning mode, and would love your input, advice, tips. As always, you can reply to this email to hit my inbox. I’ll be in a position to do about 2
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.
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.
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.
Political Ads
Campaign round up: Irish Freedom Party dominating YouTube ad spend
The Irish Freedom Party spent €4,100 in the past 3 weeks on YouTube ads, the biggest spenders on YouTube ads this election.
Four resources for election candidates and watchers
As I work through more ads and spending data (coming soon), I wanted to share 4 brilliant resources that have really impressed me this week. 1) A dashboard of all local election candidates The very good people over at Women for Election have built an easy to navigate dashboard showing
Latest MEP candidate ad spending; and what does it cost to win (and lose) a Euro seat?
We last looked at online ad spending by MEP candidates two weeks ago. Since then campaigning has ramped up, and we are starting to see patterns emerging that tell us about party strategies. It also sparks lots of questions about the role of money in Irish elections, something we ordinarily
Violence is not political speech; and hybrid online / offline abuse
I was on RTE’s Prime Time last night to talk about recent violent attacks against canvassers and candidates, and if this could be connected with heated policy debates on migration. My main point was that violence and criminality are not political speech; they are political violence, tactics to silence