Technology « Thurles Information

Ireland Represented At Ministerial Meeting Of EU Internet Forum in Brussels

EU Internet Forum endorsed a revised EU Online Crisis Response Framework, to enable a joint response to protect users online in times of crisis, and ensure the timely removal of content related to suspected terrorist or violent extremist attacks.
Discussed addressing the emerging threat of nihilistic extremism.
Discussed collective actions to protect minors from being radicalised online.
Exchanged views on innovative approaches to tackling antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred online.

Mr Niall Collins TD, (Minister of State with special responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice), represented Ireland at a Ministerial Meeting of the EU Internet Forum in Brussels yesterday.

The EU Internet Forum (EUIF) was launched by the Commission in December 2015 and addresses the misuse of the internet for terrorist purposes through two main actions:

reducing accessibility to terrorist content online
increasing the volume of effective alternative narratives online

The Forum’s activities also cover the fight against child sexual abuse online (since 2019), drug trafficking online and trafficking in human beings online (since 2022).

The Forum brings together relevant EU Ministers, technology companies and experts to discuss and advance responses to terrorism, violent extremism and illegal content online.

At the meeting, Ministers endorsed a revised EU Online Crisis Response Framework for the rapid removal of online content relating to terrorist attacks. This new Framework builds on the EU Internet Forum Protocol which was developed in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack in 2019, footage of which circulated widely online at the time.

The new Framework includes additional measures to enable Member States’ law enforcement authorities to share early warning alerts with other EU Internet Forum members in case of a suspected terrorist or violent extremist attack. This will allow for better monitoring and quicker action in case the situation develops into an online crisis.

The meeting also contained two round table discussions, the first of which opened with a presentation by Professor Ms Maura Conway (Dublin City University and member of the EU Knowledge Hub Research Committee) on the threat landscape and risks to minors stemming from terrorism and violent extremism online.

Increasingly, these risks are interlinked with other harms, such as exploitation, self-harm, child sexual abuse and recruitment into organised crime. The presentation served as an introduction for the round table discussion on innovative actions and cooperation to better protect children online.

The second round table session opened with a presentation by Ms Sasha Havlicek, [Co-Founder and CEO of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD)], on the increase of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred online. Ministers and industry representatives then discussed actions being taken and required to effectively tackle this issue.

Ford Issues Fire-Risk Warning To 2,865 Irish Kuga plug-In Hybrid Owners

Ford has issued an urgent safety warning to 2,865 Irish owners of its Kuga plug-in hybrid (PHEV), advising that a high-voltage battery defect could, in certain circumstances, lead to battery thermal venting and potentially a vehicle fire, with a risk of injury.

The renewed warning follows an earlier safety notice issued in March 2025 affecting the same vehicles, when owners were instructed not to charge the battery due to the risk of a short circuit while driving. Ford later stated that a software update, rolled out in July 2025, would detect anomalies and prevent any fire risk.

However, owners who previously received, and in many cases installed, that update have now been sent a fresh warning letter instructing them to follow the latest guidance regardless of whether the earlier action was completed.

What owners are being told to do now
Until a permanent remedy is available, Ford is advising affected customers to:

Limit charging to a maximum of 80% and do not exceed this limit.
Use only the default “Auto EV” mode, and avoid Deep Mud and Snow modes until further notice.

Ford has said it does not yet have a fix, but anticipates a remedy by mid-year, and that customers will be contacted and instructed to arrange a dealer visit once the remedy is ready.

Vehicles affected.
Ford said the vehicles impacted were manufactured before 28th November 2023, and that unsold affected vehicles have been placed on hold.

Background and customer impact.
The Kuga crossover has been one of Ford’s strongest sellers in Ireland, with 3,124 registrations over the past three years, and more than 95% of those sales being plug-in hybrids.
Last year, some owners affected by the initial defect began legal actions against the car maker, with one Circuit Court claim alleging the vehicle was effectively worthless while repayments continued under a personal contract plan.
Asked why battery packs are not being replaced and whether compensation would be considered for owners facing difficulties selling affected vehicles, Ford said it would “define the right remedy for this issue”, adding: “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our customers… We remain committed to providing our customers with safe and high-quality vehicles, addressing potential issues and responding quickly.”

Customer guidance:
Affected owners are advised to follow the instructions in Ford’s letter and contact Ford’s customer contact centre or their dealer for further assistance.

Tipperary Beware – Fake “NCT Booking” Website Targeting Motorists Online.

Motorists are being urged to remain on high alert after reports of a fraudulent website impersonating the National Car Test (NCT) booking service, designed to mislead people into making payments without actually securing any test appointment.

This scam site has been reported as closely resembling the legitimate NCT booking pages and is understood to be appearing through search engine results, where drivers searching to book a test may be diverted to the counterfeit platform.

Recent reports indicate victims have been charged amounts ranging from approximately €60 up to €600 for what is presented as an “NCT booking” or “service fee”, but no valid booking is then made.

Only use the official NCT booking site.
The only official and legitimate website for booking or managing an NCT appointment is: ncts.ie

Motorists are advised to type the address directly into their browser rather than clicking on sponsored links or unfamiliar results.

How to protect yourself – Key advice for motorists
Book only via ncts.ie (avoid lookalike sites and “booking agents” charging extra fees).
Check the web address carefully before entering any personal or payment details.
Be cautious of sites that demand unexpected additional payments or apply pressure to pay quickly.
If in doubt, leave the page and go directly to ncts.ie in a fresh browser window.

If you think you have been scammed!
Anyone who believes they may have made a payment to a fraudulent site should act immediately:
Contact your bank or card provider without delay to report the transaction and seek advice on stopping or disputing payment.
Report the matter to your local Garda station, bringing any relevant evidence (screenshots, emails, transaction confirmations, and the web address used).

Government To Publish Bill Allowing Garda Use Of Biometric Technology.

The Government is to publish new legislation that will allow An Garda Síochána to use biometric recognition technologies, including facial image analysis, in the investigation of serious crime; matters relating to State security and missing persons cases.

The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 will provide a clear legal basis for the retrospective analysis of images and footage already in Garda possession, such as CCTV and mobile phone recordings. The technology will allow Gardaí to sort, filter and compare relevant images far more quickly than is currently possible.

This move will save Gardaí thousands of work hours and speed up complex investigations where officers can currently spend months manually reviewing large volumes of footage. It is also expected to reduce the exposure of Garda members to distressing material, particularly in cases involving child sexual abuse and human trafficking.

The use of biometric analysis will be tightly controlled and operate only as an investigative tool, with no automated decision-making. All results will be reviewed by a trained Garda member, and use of the technology must be necessary and proportionate in each case.

The Bill also provides for a statutory Code of Practice, to be drafted by An Garda Síochána in consultation with stakeholders and approved by the Oireachtas. The Code will set out detailed safeguards, including strict data protection and human rights standards, and will be published to ensure transparency.

The Government has separately approved the drafting of a General Scheme to provide for retrospective and live biometric identification, in line with the EU AI Act, including for use in missing persons investigations and in protecting the security of the State and protecting those at risk.

National Cyber Security Centre Launches 2025 Cyber Risk Assessment.

National Cyber Security Centre Launches 2025 National Cyber Risk Assessment revealing Escalating Threat Landscape.

Rapidly evolving cyber risks put country’s critical infrastructure at risk.

Today (December 2nd) the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) launched its 2025 National Cyber Risk Assessment. This is a comprehensive review of the cyber threats, systemic risks, and sectoral vulnerabilities facing the State.

Launched at the NCSC’s annual conference, the assessment provides the most detailed national overview to date of Ireland’s cyber risk environment and builds on the foundation laid by the 2022 assessment.

The assessment identifies key developments in the national and global cyber threat landscape, including increasingly sophisticated nation-state activity, the accelerating pace of cybercrime, and the growing likelihood of cascading impacts across interconnected sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare, and financial services.

Key findings of the 2025 National Cyber Risk Assessment include:

As technology has advanced and reliance on digitalisation has intensified, the cyber threat landscape has become more complex with an increased risk of incidents, leading to significant cross sectoral impacts.

Taking an all-hazards approach, the 2025 National Cyber Risk Assessment has identified three key systemic risks:

The dynamic geopolitical environment,
Evolving technology and its implications on security.
Supply chain security.

If any or all these risks were to be realised, it could undermine Ireland’s delivery of essential services, disrupt its critical sectors, and erode trust in government, institutions, and organisations.

To mitigate Ireland’s identified risks, five recommendations have been identified:

Strengthen visibility and detection – investing systems and structures to enhance national visibility will reduce systemic blind spots and allow the State to be better positioned to anticipate and respond to risks before they escalate.
Implement proactive cyber defence capabilities – reactive responses alone are not sufficient to protect society and the economy from the potential cascading effects of attacks on critical systems. Ireland must enhance its proactive cyber defence posture, disrupting the cyber-attack lifecycle earlier to prevent incidents at scale.
Enhance national resilience –by implementing EU frameworks in full and extending resilience beyond infrastructure to society itself, Ireland will ensure that both services and democratic institutions remain robust in the face of systemic cyber risks.
Secure critical supply chains – the State must strengthen our supply chain through strengthening procurement rules in government, embed security-by-design and risk management practices, and increase visibility of vendor ownership.
Invest in national cyber resilience – investment in people, innovation and our indigenous industrial base will ensure that Ireland has the capacity not just to respond to today’s threats but to anticipate and shape the next generation of resilience measures.

These recommendations provide a framework for the next National Cyber Security Strategy, ensuring that systemic vulnerabilities are reduced and national resilience strengthened.

The 2025 National Cyber Risk Assessment is now available HERE.