Ireland’s New Anti-Hate Speech Surveillance Technology

Burkean 02/02/2021

Marketed as a multiplatform analytical tool to evaluate speech and facial patterns in order to create visual mapping for authorities and identity suspects, ROXANNE is a new breed of surveillance technology in the process of development and currently being backed by both An Garda Síochána and the PSNI to bring into use. 

An acronym for Real time netwOrk, teXt, and speaker ANalytics for combating orgaNized crimE, it was announced in November the Republic’s involvement in the project currently being developed in Switzerland.

A biometrics based platform ostensibly to monitor and crack down on organised crime, an additional application of ROXANNE which its creators advertise freely is the ability to monitor those guilty of alleged hate speech and political extremism. 

A product of the EU funded Horizon 2020 to foster new surveillance technology, ROXANNE works across social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube as well as normal telecommunications platforms to identify, categorise, and track faces and voices enabling authorities to paint a more in depth picture of the network being investigated, whether it be in relation to criminal activity or those deemed politically extreme.

Enabling authorities to draw on raw data from a variety of sources and platforms in order to recognise common speech patterns, facial features, and geolocation, the end result is both to identify suspects and paint an intricate picture of the networks being put under the microscope.

Renua candidate steps down after labelling Vatican ‘the Antichrist’

A RENUA IRELAND candidate for Cavan/Monaghan has stepped down after comments she made about the Vatican on an anti-abortion Facebook page.
This morning the Sunday Times reported Mary Smyth labelled the Vatican as “the Antichrist” in comments on the ‘Irish anti-abortion crusade’ Facebook group page.
Her remarks were made in response to Pope Francis’ decision to allow St Peter’s Basilica to be used for a light show coinciding with the Paris climate change talks. The decision angered conservative Catholics as they claimed the Vatican was allowing climate change activists to push their agenda.
Smyth reportedly described the Vatican as “corrupt, riddled with gay sex and adoration of wealth”.
On her candidate Facebook page, the counselling psychologist and qualified nurse  said she had decided to run because she was “tired of the lies, betrayals and false promises” of the current government.
Among her priorities, she listed improvements in mental health services for children, the provision of dedicated drug rehabilitation facilities and vigorous defence of the Eighth Amendment.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie today, spokesperson for Renua Ireland John Drennan said there had been a “parting of ways” and that the party wished Smyth well.
“On discovering the views, and prior to any media enquiries, the leader wrote to Mary Smyth requesting one, were these views her actual views and two, expressing great concern, in particular about references to gays, that such references should be extremely hurtful,” he said.
The party also launched an investigation by its ethics officer.
When asked whether Smyth’s comments were representative of the party’s views, he said:

Renua is a party which believes in freedom of conscience but freedom of conscience does not give you the freedom to say anything.

“These matters have now obviously been subsumed by the decision of Mary Smyth to not contest the election,” Drennan added.     The Journal