The Citizen Lab

🚨NEW REPORT: by Jeffrey Knockel, Jakub Dalek, Levi Meletti and @edok_lotosov “Not OK on VK: An Analysis of In-Platform Censorship on Russia’s VKontakte”. Legal orders for blocking content in Russia have increased 30 times since #RussiaInvadedUkraine. ➡️ t.co/xG4Zsul1Ra

@citizenlab Fellow @jon_penney ✍️ about how the use of #Ai for law enforcement can be terrifying and recommends steps that can be employed to protect fundamental rights.

🚨NEW REPORT: Beautiful Bauhinia  -"HKLeaks" - The Use of Covert and Overt Online Harassment Tactics to Repress 2019 #HongKong Protests by @albefittarelli and @lokmantsui. Report  examines "HKLEAKS,"  a #doxxing campaign targeting activists since 2019.

We at @citizenlab are relieved that @nouraaljizawi, a human rights defender and senior researcher got PR status in 🇨🇦 but the journey has been emotionally taxing on her and her family. @emiledirks writes for @globeandmail ➡️ t.co/bAKr4FlQGV

Canada 🇨🇦 @CitImmCanada called out by @MaryLawlorhrds, UN Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders, for its abhorrent treatment of @citizenlab senior researcher @nouraaljizawi #justicefornoura 👇 @SeanFraserMP @JustinTrudeau

🚨NEW REPORT Should We Chat? Privacy in the WeChat Ecosystem. Report by @m0namon @2Pellaeon and Jeffrey Knockel finds #WeChat records user activity and usage when users launch Mini Programs. This is a privacy risk & unknown how data collected might be used t.co/O7DMVAXFWq

🔉🔊JOB OPENING: We @citizenlab @munkschool are hiring a Systems and Security Technical Lead who will work with #IT staff to minimize risk of compromising of information, data, servers and server-based apps. Details ➡️ t.co/nORnBKaNBd Deadline: July 7, 2023

🔴🔜 Starting soon @citizenlab Senior legal advisor @sienaanstis will be discussing hate that spews on social media and how digital peace can be achieved. If you are at @rightscon you’d want to join this conversation ⬇️ t.co/27s7P1m6jD

🔴 Starting 🔜 @rightscon, @citizenlab’s @emiledirks will be discussing approaches to address China’s digital authoritarianism and transnational repression. Join online t.co/IZQ7vTpjUJ t.co/e1or0IFqFy

🔜 At #RightsCon2023 upcoming @citizenlab session, starting soon at 11:30 CST t.co/XCU6YYqoki

🚨Starting 🔜 #ICA2023 Session: Measuring Authenticity, Redefining Disinformation: Mixed methods approach to disinformation studies in the context of repressive regimes. Chair @citizenlab’s @sienaanstis, on the panel: @nouraaljizawi @edok_lotosov t.co/Gc9EBpJjb5

@citizenlab Director @RonDeibert’s analysis of how the use of #spyware has increased in the recent decade, as well as the steps governments and private sector could do to address phone vulnerabilities that lead to human rights violations. Watch full video 👇🏽

🚨NEW REPORT: MISSING LINKS ⛓️. Are you unable to get answers to your online searches? Multiple levels of #censorship affects eight #China accessible search platforms including #MicrosoftBing blocking all or some results. t.co/MD3kKSILc8

Technologies of #AI 🤖🧠 are rapidly advancing. Human survival may depend on design & implementation of restraints on AI, but is it achievable? If in #Toronto, great talk today @munkschool 1PM- 3PM EST. Details👉🏼 t.co/WZQSdq1OEC

🚨NEW REPORT: NSO Group’s #Pegasus #Spyware returns in 2022 with a trio of iOS 15 and iOS 16 zero-click exploit chains. The report finds NSO group clients deployed exploits against civil society members including two human right defenders in #Mexico t.co/kIoWsn0AW0

NEW REPORT: SWEET QUADREAMS: A first look at #spyware vendor QuaDream’s spy tools, victims and customers. We identified traces of suspected exploit deployed against iOS versions 14.4 and 14.4.2 and possibly other versions as zero-day vulnerability. t.co/u7jcxJpu9H

We @citizenlab are thrilled to announce Mohamed Ahmed as the recipient of the Reset Scholarship award. @RonDeibert established the Reset Scholarship by donating his Donner prize for his book #RESET to support a @UofT @munkschool political science student. t.co/rLaKCT5R98

NEW JOB OPPORTUNITY: Want to work with a dynamic and inclusive team @citizenlab? We are looking for Manager, Information System Security. Share in your circles. For details ➡️ t.co/z6ueb5azDg

Happening now: Advancing Technology for Democracy at #SummitForDemocracy2023. Much works needs to be done to confront the digital threats that we face and @jsrailton @citizenlab speaks on misuse of tech to spread authoritarianism. Watch live 👇🏽 t.co/lVpj9tVvt6

Canada to support Biden administration’s push aimed at countering “proliferation and misuse of commercial #spyware.” @RonDeibert calls it a strong signal to vendors and investors, making business harder. t.co/M6C5XbDPxA

The Biden administration opens the two-day #SummitForDemocracy to zero in on making technology work for to strengthen democratic practices. Link 👇🏽for live updates from Plenary day and @RonDeibert on countering misuse of tech and digital authoritarianism t.co/fcIlUdOR1Y

Senior Researcher @jsrailton emphasizes the need for international guardrails, adding that #executiveorder will stop the spread of #spyware by warning businesses that time is running out for malpractices. t.co/MjzxPWAg5V

@RonDeibert @citizenlab on #Spyware #executiveorder says, "the order will make the lucrative US federal govt market inaccessible to firms that present a national security risk and facilitate transnational repression and human rights violations." t.co/kZKMHVZYCy

First known case of an American national being targeted with a #cyberespionage #predator tool in the EU. We @citizenlab discovered the infection👇🏽. t.co/Z5UrTMzmnC

UPCOMING PANEL: A discussion on Women Human Rights Defenders as game changers by overcoming challenges and using pioneering tools. @nouraaljizawi is one of the speakers who will discuss the risks, realities and opportunities posed by tech innovation. t.co/ggJyu3XwiZ

@gabriellelim was invited to speak at the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on foreign interference and challenges to the credibility of democratic institutions. t.co/LfjPwYgYMJ

OPEN CALL LAUNCHES for The Spyware Accountability Initiative that will support civil society org. to expose and prevent spyware and help bring accountability to global trade in surveillance technologies 👇🏽

NEW JOB POSTING: Manager, Information System Security. Join the team @citizenlab where we do research, and engage in high-level legal and policy engagement at the nexus of information and communication technology, human rights, and international security. t.co/ggvkoYxLQ7

This episode explores the evidence that the #Mexican army acquired #Pegasus spyware and routinely used it against Mexican journalists and activists. Featuring Luis Fernando of @R3Dmx and @jsrailton @citizenlab t.co/HSkssUialI

In this episode, @citizenlab’s Senior Research Associate Jeffrey Knockel explains how automated censorship occurs on Chinese apps, and @RonDeibert discusses the socio-political implications. Watch Influencers t.co/OabQtnlA87