The Citizen Lab

As the US became the epicentre of the pandemic, WeChat shifted censorship to reflect the clash of Beijing’s and Washington’s narratives surrounding COVID-19 on the international stage. More from our latest report on WeChat censorship: t.co/PmxCLtfJdz t.co/wiC8lmf7NN

Police services around the world—and now in Canada—are starting to use algorithmic technology in ways that the public has not seen before. Algorithmic policing technology is controversial. A thread on the true cost of this tech ⬇️

NEW REPORT: To Surveil and Predict: A Human Rights Analysis of Algorithmic Policing in Canada t.co/1omiIg8DCH

The curious Canadian connections to Belarusian Internet shutdowns and circumvention ⬇️⬇️⬇️

“This censorship shows the ongoing politicization of the pandemic and the importance of fact-based, open, and effective communications pertaining to public health"- @grayops t.co/tZWhwRlFPA

NEW REPORT: Censored Contagion II: A Timeline of Information Control on Chinese Social Media During COVID-19 t.co/PmxCLtfJdz

"Although the coronavirus does not discriminate, its consequences do. Marginalized groups that are vulnerable to prejudice have suffered disproportionately from COVID-19."- @irenepoet t.co/cakZQO8iIB

Although the impact of Internet shutdowns on collective action fluctuates across Africa, they are often followed by escalations in the momentum of preexisting protests or the continuation of previous dynamics. The latest from @Mose_Karanja t.co/x5Vrd9RSpt

Our investigations into NSO Group reveal that spyware targets span a range of affiliations. They include public health officials, human rights defenders, anti-corruption advocates, journalists, and, as evidenced in this report, religious leaders. t.co/2aXV2ughqw

"My fear is that other countries will look at this type of executive action and say...this is a model we'd like to follow. And where this leads is towards the eventual splintering of the Internet." - @RonDeibert t.co/KmDPRkT700

While the COVID Alert app passes muster from a technical perspective, that doesn't mean it's perfect. @caparsons breaks down the legal and equality issues for @CANADALAND t.co/A3kCL8L4V8

Join @irenepoet and @billmarczak Tuesday as they examine Internet Freedom in terms of geopolitics between states @usenix t.co/aQxmoTpG6C

“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