The Citizen Lab

While ostensibly sold to thwart terrorism, commercial spyware is habitually abused and used to target journalists. “What we have found is that companies either are unwilling or unable to control how their government clients use it.”- @RonDeibert t.co/FXGEa52JnH

Someone Tried to Hack My Phone. Technology Researchers Accused Saudi Arabia. t.co/fMA8kWvfZo

NEW REPORT: "Stopping the Press: @nytimes Journalist @NYTBen Targeted by Saudi-linked Pegasus Spyware Operator" by @citizenlab: t.co/v2nnqKesdf

Interested in developing your own data access request initiative? The Access My Info Playbook walks through all the requirements for setting up an AMI project including detailed descriptions of research methods and communications strategies. t.co/T3Oe3mSidp t.co/4Hdt4EUF9m

In China, you can name your gaming avatar many things—but not Xi Jinping. Analyzing 200 games and over 180,000 blacklisted keywords, Citizen Lab researchers explain the role of companies and government authorities in the implementation of censorship. #TBT t.co/vWpqLnBA1L

From hiding incriminating HTML to purchasing Google Ads for marital spying, spyware vendors clearly market their technologies for purposes that many would find dangerous. Read our full report on the marketing, technical, & legal aspects of the industry. t.co/XlgyrPkVoC

A Storm of Tweets: Social Media Manipulation During the Gulf Crisis t.co/sVsj2NqarP

"Canadian researchers are engaged in research and sharing with Chinese companies including Huawei and it may turn out that those engagements run counter to US policies”- @caparsons t.co/ckSIC9Dtt3

How Abu Dhabi’s Spy Sheikh hid ToTok in Plain Sight by our own @billmarczak t.co/rQM2cogIbH

ICYMI from last week: How these Toronto sleuths are exposing the world’s digital spies while risking their own lives t.co/eS51nakutY via @TorontoStar @scontenta

While initially hailed as a tool of liberation, social media is now seen as an engine of political propaganda. @abulkhaezuran & @AndrewMLeber contextualize this within the Gulf Crisis and demonstrate how state actors manipulate discourse on Twitter. t.co/sVsj2NqarP t.co/flie4uKmZ0

NSO spyware first appeared in Mexico in 2016, with operators setting sights not on terrorists or criminals, but public health scienists #GobiernoEspía #TBT t.co/8FjV1sckGb

Users, producers, and sellers of stalkerware apps are *all* likely in contravention of several Canadian laws. This comic by @jasonli breaks down some of the potential legal rights infringed upon. t.co/imeQodNMNY

Canada must conduct an evaluation on how Ottawa expanding its engagement with Huawei could affect its relations with Washington, argues @caparsons t.co/dEAeABVZSS

Today: join @irenepoet in a discussion of why it's integral to approach digital policy and cybersecurity as issues deeply impacted by gender and orientation.

"Frankly, the government of Canada has fallen down catastrophically and this has meant that no one knows exactly what they should be doing"- @caparsons on the lack of guidance universities recieve when partnering with companies like Huawei t.co/VWF2u4JJlh

“I resorted to suing [Korea Telecom] to get the rest of my data.”- Kelly Kim of @opennetkr on how a personal data request turned into a legal stand-off. t.co/Mw2I2Ixl0G

Join @KateRobertson_ on December 3rd as she discusses the dangers of facial recognition and the legal implications of increasingly invasive technologies. t.co/uxFcbuDhIK t.co/Qa0aN43t3Q

Platform providers must pay close attention to threats against civil society: not only are these users at heightened risk of negative consequences from digital espionage, but the tools honed with the unwitting aid of civil society put all users at risk. t.co/MspfkrYuvc

"I think generally Canadians should be concerned, because not all Canadians know they're under suspicion"- @caparsons t.co/GS93UYYM6X

"Now, after months of investigation, we can say who was behind this attack. Today, we have filed a complaint in federal court that explains what happened and attributes the intrusion to an Israeli technology company called NSO Group." t.co/3FGMuURwxk

We have identified over 100 cases of abusive targeting in at least 20 countries that took place after Novalpina Capital acquired NSO Group and began an ongoing public relations campaign to promote the narrative that the new ownership would curb abuses. t.co/1SFxr16hVe

At #MozFest? Join @mattbraga at 4:30 pm in a discussion of how @SecPlanner can be tailored and updated to better protect the digital lives of everyday Internet users. t.co/iz8GvSzNYb

If you're at @mozillafestival next week, be sure to check out @adam_senft and @MilesJKenyon speak about LGBTQ2+ info controls and the effects of censorship on marginalized communities t.co/2EGN8dFM9H

We give companies tons of personal data. But how do they handle it? And how might they be using it in unexpected ways? 🤔 Access My Info helps you take back control by learning exactly what companies know about you & who they share data with. Learn more: t.co/zoadOUdwHI

The Internet was created by academics to embolden access to information, free expression, and privacy. But insecurities now threaten those fundamental principles of research. So, according to @RonDeibert, it's time we take the Internet back. t.co/QXQvOk2De0