The Citizen Lab

Our latest: @NEBCanada is seeking privatized "threat monitoring services" to collect "vast amounts" of online activity related to pipelines and energy. Our response highlights risks to privacy, speech, Indigenous communities and environmental groups here: t.co/ltBFyMIrGs

One year ago, Citizen Lab showed that spyware technology was being used to target journalists & human rights defenders in Mexico. Here @tumbolian explains how tools meant to track criminals turned into the biggest surveillance scandal in Mexican history t.co/LqjRGsQwZs

“Many automated OSINT tools are as much snake oil as they are useful"- @caparsons t.co/OItQNx9VXH

Listen to @lex_is on the latest episode of the @IRPP podcast, discussing the nuances of encryption technology, human rights and security t.co/EYlVRGWT4T

ICYMI: "This was a ‘Big Data’ surveillance effort that was operated in contravention of the authorizing law of CSIS, an incredibly secretive organization"- @caparsons t.co/Pbzdb4syje

""Civil society is increasingly the victim of cyber capabilities that were once seen as tools of popular liberation and that are now more often instruments of repression." Why Canada needs a cyber security foreign policy t.co/BonaTfFlUS via @thehilltimes

If you're in Toronto tomorrow, make sure to catch @RonDeibert deliver a keynote address on surveillance and big data at the LSA 2018 Annual Meeting t.co/MJ5DAnREvw

ICYMI: "There is the risk that instead of improving the situation, these technologies may just entrench or encourage unfair or discriminatory practices"- @lex_is t.co/huAJwlXBFW

Today, Citizen Lab sent an open letter to Francisco Partners requesting an update on our March report concerning Sandvine, as well as the reported interest in a sale of NSO Group to Verint Systems & Francisco Partners’ investment practices more generally t.co/1LxjFbpweP

#TBT to 2010, when Citizen Lab Director @RonDeibert took on Blackberry's lack of transparency around collusion with governments on surveillance, in @globeandmail t.co/9YBN5LYxgU

"Criminals and law-abiding citizens alike use the same communication systems: weaken them for one and you weaken them for all."- @RonDeibert on ongoing encryption debates and the latest report by @citizenlab and @cippic t.co/o7sZambHsI

Wondering how encrypted email actually works? @citizenlab and @cippic researchers discuss the technical, legal, and historical issues of encryption in their newly released field guide t.co/lYehP2ivHx

NEW REPORT: Shining a Light on the Encryption Debate: A Canadian Field Guide t.co/lYehP2A6z5

If you're going to be at @rightscon next week, check out some of the amazing sessions that the Citizen Lab will be participating in! t.co/SyrcnWg1wA

Applications are now open for the First Workshop on NLP for Internet Freedom. Learn more: t.co/wcOAvMn2fy #NLP4IF

▪️What: Google Policy Fellowship ▪️Why: Because you're passionate about technology and Internet policy ▪️Where: Toronto (@citizenlab) or Ottawa (@cippic) ▪️When: Applications due this Friday, May 11 t.co/q3Z3LX6PRO

ICYMI: @RonDeibert sent a letter to @R_Boissonnault about the use of Netsweeper technology to censor LGBTQ2 content around the world and the government's financial support of the company t.co/kSO9bOioDK

For just over $1,000 USD, operators conducted an extensive phishing enterprise with targets in the Tibetan community, showing how simple and inexpensive tactics can have significant impact. Read more: t.co/VqyhGQX36T t.co/lydf9o8sAo

👋🏾Come work with us! Apply for the Google Policy Fellowship and tackle pressing issues related to data access rights, corporate transparency, and national security policy. Application deadline: Friday, May 11 t.co/q3Z3LX6PRO

"We believe the Canadian government could help — and indeed is obligated to help — prevent the abuse of Canadian-made censorship and surveillance technology through export controls and other regulations." - @RonDeibert t.co/fpIxzoHcNU

Citizen Lab director @RonDeibert has penned a letter to @R_Boissonnault to address the issues of Canadian technology being used to infringe on the rights of LGBTQ2 persons around the world. Read the full submission: t.co/kSO9bOioDK

Planning your @rightscon schedule? Mark your calendars for 'Ethical Duties in the Digital Age: Encryption Done Dirt Cheap' featuring the Citizen Lab's Sarah McKune t.co/Av54sumfZo

"Access to information is a human right recognized under international law — yet one that many governments defy in practice through extensive Internet censorship." - @RonDeibert t.co/fyw4FbRd6f

"The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto has found barriers to the process including data usability, identity verification, transmission security, and cost − in one instance, they found a company charged a consumer $200 plus tax." t.co/w8luLGPpbv