The real 'new politics'

Despite the outrage and argument about what Cambridge Analytica said and what Facebook knew, the technological advances made will not be reversed and regulation will be a puny line of protection for voters

Facebook will continue with soothing noises after data controversy. Pic: Getty

When ‘new politics’ was declared a reality, after the 2016 election, there were quite some column inches explaining how this kind of Fine Gael/Fianna Fail 'co-opetition' might work. Sure, they had fallen short of a full-blooded coalition, but their confidence and supply agreement felt like a new age had dawned. Independents joining in and sitting at Cabinet was the icing on the new thing that seemed finally to bring down the curtain on ...