The Citizen Lab

“There are very real privacy and security risks to WeChat users,” @RonDeibert said in an email, “but a wholesale ban on WeChat is extreme, shortsighted, and likely counterproductive.” t.co/0E4hicQf7O via @WSJ

Director @RonDeibert said that going so far as to ban it in the U.S. “will produce chaos for internet users and businesses, invite retaliation from China and present a blueprint for authoritarians the world over to emulate.” t.co/2kIu5LMrH0 via @nbcnews

Thread from Citizen Lab Director @RonDeibert on Trump's Executive Orders banning TikTok and WeChat 👇

NEW REPORT: "Nothing Sacred: Religious and Secular Voices for Reform in Togo Targeted with NSO Spyware" by @citizenlab: t.co/2aXV2tYG1W

Western policy responses have viewed terrorism and misinformation as phenomena that should be repressed, rather than symptoms of underlying sociopolitical maladies that should be redressed. The latest from @gabriellelim and @abulkhaezuran t.co/ME8eBMu2lx

Last day to apply! t.co/q7Wf2UqOos

If you haven't applied to our surveillance, digital security, and race fellowship yet, there's still time! Come work with us and contribute vital research on anti-Black racism, police brutality, and discriminatory technologies. Deadline: July 27 t.co/q7Wf2UqOos

Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines have pursued different approaches to address COVID-19 but they share one thing in common: a disproportionate impact on marginalised groups. @irenepoet and Justin Lau investigate for @data_ctive t.co/wCKraZVTLz

"The U.K is concerned Huawei may have to rely on less technologically advanced and secure products. Canada can say the same, but this doesn’t change the fact China is holding Canadians hostage and is also one of our largest trading partners"- @caparsons t.co/lhAFRzqHSs

“This case is extremely troubling because it suggests that possible domestic political espionage was taking place.”- @jsrailton t.co/Ufv2UnM5xa

Thread from Citizen Lab's @sienaanstis 👇

Researchers bring invaluable perspectives that often stem from lived experiences of interacting with the very systems of abuse we investigate. In that spirit, our new fellowship is specifically for applicants who identify as Black. Deadline: July 27 t.co/q7Wf2UqOos

NEW FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY @citizenlab: "Citizen Lab Fellowship: Surveillance, Digital Security, and Race": t.co/q7Wf2UqOos

Is spyware technology helping governments hack phones? t.co/6ozvpxlg68

Senior researcher @jsrailton joined @lawfareblog to discuss our multi-year investigation into a hack-for-hire operation that targeted environmental groups, journalists, and elected government officials. t.co/2k3vrPMlbW

According to @nouraaljizawi and @abulkhaezuran, fears of Twitter being overrun by misinformative bot armies may be overblown. t.co/h5X7sOmcaT

"That some of these individuals were targeted multiple times shows that there is a disturbing pattern of spyware attacks against HRDs involved in the #BhimaKoregaon case." t.co/KTGsghOI62

Over the course of our multi-year investigation, we found that Dark Basin likely conducted commercial espionage on behalf of clients against opponents involved in high profile public events, criminal cases, financial transactions, news stories & advocacy. t.co/p1PAJJCos5

LIVE NOW: @tibcert and @citizenlab discuss the human rights implications of contact tracing apps t.co/jZsVefZLvg

Today at 12:00 pm EST: @RonDeibert in conversation with Jeffrey Knockel to discuss the technical foundations of Chinese social media censorship, including discoveries that platforms blocked COVID-related keywords before the virus was widely known. t.co/6lxEnKztsm

“This is one of the largest spy-for-hire operations ever exposed”- @jsrailton t.co/d6oQxpY9FY

NEW REPORT: Dark Basin: Uncovering a Massive Hack-For-Hire Operation t.co/p1PAJJCos5

This Wednesday, @RonDeibert chats with Citizen Lab researcher Jeffrey Knockel about the inner workings of Chinese social media censorship. Give us a follow on Instagram and check it out: t.co/8FVL9jETwx t.co/22phhQfF1o

Despite censorship, human rights groups & citizens make efforts to commemorate the event. Besides physical commemorations around the world, Internet users in China use coded language, pictures & emojis of candles, cartoons of tanks & other images to mourn the event. #6431truth t.co/kxN2wi0CZ8

Censorship on WeChat and other Chinese social media platforms is dynamic and reactive to events. WeChat recently blocked references to June 4 along with mentions of #COVID19 and China's recent National Security Law for Hong Kong. #6431truth t.co/o7SoULDZNA

In May 2020, the Hong Kong government extended its #COVID19 social distancing measures to June 4. The extended period covers the annual #TiananmenSquare Massacre vigil in Victoria Park, an event which attracts hundreds of thousands of people. #6431truth t.co/1IN3tbqH2A t.co/iMh1VqLZKn

In June 2020, we discovered that WeChat censors references to commemorations of the event as well as police responses to June 4-related memorials and activism in #HongKong. #6431truth t.co/ZWHI7DLNpW

Citizen Lab has been monitoring how WeChat, the most popular social media app in China, censors information since 2015. References to #June4 are consistently censored on WeChat. #6431truth t.co/TQSCXar8u3

Censored June 4-related keywords often include general and coded references to the #1989TiananmenMovement, references to the anniversaries of the event, and symbolic figures of the movement. #6431truth t.co/VMbFTPmIMT t.co/IXBPgnSU65

June 4, 1989: Chinese military carries out a brutal crackdown on demonstrations calling for democratic reform, leading to deaths estimated to be between hundreds & thousands. This remains one of the most censored topics on the Internet in China. #6431truth t.co/VMbFTPmIMT t.co/mfqj3WGDqW