The Citizen Lab

NEW: In a joint investigation with @DeptFirst, we uncovered #spyware covertly implanted on the phone of a Russian programmer following his release from Russian custody. The Monokle-like spyware allows an operator to track the device’s location, record phone calls, keystrokes, and read messages from encrypted messaging apps. Read our report: t.co/csDdkvMaua

Check out the episode “Election Misinformation” of @BigIfTrueTVO, where host @MollyThomasTV delves into the rise of #misinformation during elections. The Citizen Lab’s @gabriellelim discusses the demand-side of misinformation and how political actors exploit our social vulnerabilities for political gain. 📺 Watch the full episode here: t.co/vfjRUFtfxf

How do gender and sexuality shape digital transnational repression? In this video, we explain the gender-specific tactics used by perpetrators to silence and disable the voices of exiled women human rights defenders. #16DaysofActivism #TransnationalRepression t.co/nfhxeeklrB

📢 NEW REPORT: No Escape: The Weaponization of Gender for the Purposes of Digital Transnational Repression. We investigate the rising trend of gender-based digital transnational repression by drawing on the lived experiences of 85 women human rights defenders living in exile across the globe. Read the full report: t.co/HmtHHlo6uL

Digital transnational repression (DTR) is increasingly becoming the cornerstone of 'everyday' transnational repression, posing a significant threat to the rights and freedoms of dissidents and activists living in exile. t.co/1F9mF1rgXq

Victims of spyware face numerous hurdles in seeking justice against mercenary spyware makers such as NSO Group. Speaking with @timstarks @CyberScoopNews, The Citizen Lab’s @jsrailton says, “A lot of victims have struggled to get their cases to move forward, and keep moving. Some of that traces back to forms of immunity that spyware companies and their government customers seek to shield themselves with.” Read the article: t.co/0giIkQ1Y7V

Human rights organizations and experts have called for a close examination of the recent reforms announced by #Sandvine. The open letter, spearheaded by @accessnow and co-signed by @RonDeibert and @jsrailton, urges @Sandvine to provide remedies to those harmed by its technologies. @TerryPender writes for @WR_Record. t.co/qamntVG0jI

On this episode of Zoom In, Zoom Out with @taiwanplusnews, senior researcher Rebekah Brown (@PDXBek) discusses the global rise of commercial spyware and the lack of accountability surrounding this technology. "Governments must ensure companies are taking all necessary steps to protect people," she says. 🎧 Watch it here: t.co/h5TuFtEIIJ #spyware

On November 29, the Citizen Lab’s @KateRobertson_ will deliver a keynote at the 2024 Access, Privacy, Security, and Information Management Conference. Kate will discuss the intersection of privacy law and Canada’s constitution, and the future of privacy regulation in #Canada. Learn more about the event here 👉🏽 t.co/3DCZwa0P0i #APSIM2024 #PrivacyLaw

“It is happening on the American Amazon site and it is infringing on people’s human rights,” says Jeffrey Knockel speaking with @PenderRecord about a new report from the Citizen Lab revealing how @Amazon’s US site is restricting shipments of over 17k+ products to multiple countries. t.co/04X9ioTe9G

The Citizen Lab’s @KateRobertson_ testified before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Veterans Affairs @SenateCA on Bill C-26. Robertson calls for stronger judicial oversight, protection for encryption, and transparency obligations in Bill C-26 to protect the rights and freedoms of people in Canada, and the security of Canada’s telecom networks. Read her written submission here: t.co/9vtNgGGWs0 #BillC26 #privacy

📢 NEW REPORT: Our latest report reveals that the US storefront of @amazon uses a system to restrict shipments of certain products. We found 17k+ products that were restricted from being shipped to specific world regions, with the most common type of product being books 📚. #censorship #AmazonCensorship #BannedBooks t.co/1rcxwzR6SF

📽️Premiering today on @CraveCanada - this @HBO original doc from @RonanFarrow uncovers the insidious ways in which our daily lives are being surveilled by the state, featuring interviews with the Citizen Lab's @RonDeibert & @elies.

JOB OPPORTUNITY: @munkschool @uoft is looking for applicants with a PhD in comp sci, engineering, or a related field to apply for the f/t tenure stream position of Assistant Professor, Information Security. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with us at The Citizen Lab. What are you waiting for? Come work with us! Learn more👇 t.co/QajUynNZu2

JOB ALERT: The @munkschool @UofTArtSci is recruiting for an Assistant Professor, Social Sciences and Digital Technologies. This full-time tenure stream position offers the opportunity to work closely with The Citizen Lab. Come work with us! Apply here by Jan 7: t.co/E6XLbT8m6C

What can the world learn from Indonesia’s democracy? Join the Citizen Lab’s @irenepoet on November 14 for a panel discussion @munkschool about the challenges in sustaining democracy, and the important lessons Indonesia has to offer about the resilience and vulnerabilities of democratic systems. Learn more : t.co/MwrleXMZdI

🔈💼 WE’RE HIRING: The Citizen Lab is seeking a highly motivated Systems and Security Administrator. We are looking for a network administrator to manage and support the Lab’s information security needs, carrying a range of information technology-related responsibilities. Apply by Nov 15. t.co/xheLFPrBc3 #JobOpportunity #TechCareers

The Citizen Lab’s director @RonDeibert is slated to deliver a keynote about the new frontiers of espionage, subversion, and Dark PR at @TheHagueProgram’s 2024 Conference on International Cyber Security on Nov 13. Learn more t.co/V74AaXe3w2

On Monday (11/04) at 4 pm: The Citizen Lab's senior researcher @KateRobertson_ will be testifying before the @SenateCA Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs on the topic of Bill C-26. Watch it here: t.co/gEpFec21RK t.co/on2RJBpZUp

Speaking with @WR_Record about Sandvine sanctions in the U.S., @RonDeibert says “Frankly, it is embarrassing that it took the United States to hold a Canadian firm accountable.” Read the article: t.co/HxRu94gzFf t.co/ZkgGRNrVmr

“I can see there are Sandvine installations operating in a number of very problematic countries and probably will be for a while.” The Citizen Lab’s @RonDeibert talks to @CTVKitchener’s @SpencerCTV about Sandvine being removed from U.S. blacklist. t.co/5I4N4I1e9S

The Citizen Lab's @jsrailton speaks to @WIRED about the U.S. @ICEgov's $2M contract with Israeli mercenary spyware vendor Paragon Solutions. t.co/eIWS9DTCFh

The Citizen Lab's @nouraaljizawi will be speaking about the growing trend of digital transnational repression at #WomeninJournalism's event this Wednesday (10/23). Learn more: t.co/521AMcANDf @CFWIJ t.co/5VMnWJuJuO

Tomorrow (10/19) the Citizen Lab's director & founder @RonDeibert will be wrapping up the @TheKnowltonLA 2024 Literary Festival. He will discuss his 2020 book "Reset: Reclaiming the Internet for Civil Society" and tease details of his upcoming title "Chasing Shadows". Learn more 👇

In a piece for @Kennedy_School’s @MisinfoReview, The Citizen Lab’s @gabriellelim and her co-authors unpack the complex challenges facing the field of misinformation. The authors say they “see this as an inflection point and an opportunity to chart a more informed and contextual research practice.” Read it here t.co/2kmesuMsLC

Today at @knightcolumbia’s “Regardless of Frontiers” event: @RonDeibert is presenting a paper (co-authored with @sienaanstis) about the growing phenomenon of digital transnational repression. Watch online: t.co/FGmE7PxZAP

💬NEW REPORT: The Citizen Lab takes a deep dive into the network encryption protocol used by #WeChat, an app with over one billion users. The app uses a custom #encryption protocol called “MMTLS” that introduces cryptographic weaknesses. Read the report: t.co/9EmcuMXqnC

“The Canadian government is asleep at the wheel when it comes to export controls of this type of dual-use technology,” the Citizen Lab’s @RonDeibert said in a follow-up interview with @CTVKitchener about Sandvine. Watch here: t.co/ewzRexvy6Y

UPDATE: @Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit takes legal action to dismantle Russia-based threat actor COLDRIVER following our joint investigation with @accessnow. Read more: t.co/HV8oplHyEF

🆕 NEW ARTICLE The Citizen Lab’s @sienaanstis and former legal intern Émilie LaFlèche identify that the key to understanding digital transnational repression lies at its intersection with gender. In their article published in Globalizations, they call upon the research community to dive deeper into the gender dimensions of transnational repression. Full article: Gender-based digital transnational repression as a global authoritarian practice t.co/hpvOUcH7yP