Regulating the Information Society
Ireland has become a global hub for personal information, with internet firms headquartered there holding information on billions of users. But has Ireland been a responsible regulator? This chapter examines the approach of the Irish state, tracing the evolution of data protection governance and its application to the internet industry. It outlines the legal and policy context, and argues that regulation has been hampered by a weak legislative framework and significant under-resourcing of the data protection supervisory authority. Using Facebook as a case study, it examines how this has prompted international pressure for stronger regulation and evaluates the Irish response. It concludes by arguing that Ireland has yet to properly engage with the wider issues presented by its new role as a key jurisdiction for the internet industry, with data protection being just one of many aspects that need more attention as Irish regulation increasingly has spillover effects elsewhere.