The Citizen Lab

Spyware attacks, censorship, social media hacking, DDoS attacks, surveillance, and smear campaigns are just some of the tactics used by the #Azerbaijani government to silence women activists. The regime is also notorious for exploiting intimate photos and videos to intimidate and publicly shame women dissidents and critics. Learn more about this growing threat: t.co/bJ6mAqOf2U

#Iran is a pertinent perpetrator of transnational repression, using a range of digital methods to silence dissent across borders. Phishing campaigns are used to steal personal information of targets, while state-run media spreads defamatory content aimed at discrediting women and their activism. This digital targeting escalates the risk to both their personal safety and their family’s. Read more about it here: t.co/oigIYj1ySk

China’s repression of #Uyghurs in #Xinjiang extends beyond borders to target women Uyghur activists and their families, using digital threats, harassment, surveillance, and smear campaigns to silence human rights advocacy on the suppression of the Uyghur culture and community . Read our country spotlight here: t.co/uB4Wbl2iso

The #Eritrean government uses digital transnational repression to silence women activists with online campaigns of gendered abuse, stalking, and doxxing, targeting their reputation, jobs, and families. This creates an environment of fear and mistrust within polarized diaspora communities. Read our country case study here: t.co/tL2G7wg3Ua

Exiled #Russian activists, journalists, and dissidents have been facing escalating transnational repression since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Phishing attempts, sexist insults, mass trolling, and spyware attacks are rampant, with under-resourced women activists and indigenous voices being a primary target of #Russian state actors. Read more here: t.co/Qh47AVUPSC

Turkey frequently targets dissidents, exiled journalists, and activists worldwide with digital transnational repression. The #Turkish government uses digital tactics to intimidate critics, especially women, through online trolling, surveillance-by-proxy, and harassment from loyalist groups in the diaspora. #Turkiye Read our country spotlight here: t.co/0DB0jRBI6p

Speaking with @kevincollier @NBCNews, @RonDeibert cautions #DeepSeek users to be "particularly cautious if they have reason to fear Chinese authorities." “The same risks apply to all AI platforms, including those based in the United States," he adds. t.co/DXdg5NwWrd

For a deeper dive into the country-specific tactics of digital transnational repression, check out our spotlights on #Turkey, #Eritrea, #China, #Russia, #Iran, and #Azerbaijan. t.co/DWyDu0yw3c

In our latest report, co-authors @sienaanstis, @nouraaljizawi, and @mmichae1sen unpack the unique digital tactics used to silence women activists living in exile. Read the report: t.co/YhR651Gsqa

What is digital transnational repression (DTR) - and why should you care? DTR arises when governments use digital technologies to surveil, intimidate and silence exiled dissidents and diaspora communities.

📚 One week until the release of @RonDeibert's new book “Chasing Shadows”, published by @simonschusterca! Get your copy Feb 4 >> t.co/DnaaRtwiL1 t.co/HEzm73cLwv

In testimony before the @HoCCommittees 🇨🇦 #SDIR, @nouraaljizawi, senior researcher at The Citizen Lab, voices concern about the rise of digital transnational repression against exiled dissidents in Canada. Watch it here: t.co/SaThIEnTWp

📢@OpenTechFund’s 2025 Information Controls Fellowship Program, supporting researchers tackling internet #censorship & #surveillance, is accepting applications. As one of the host organizations, @citizenlab welcomes proposals. Learn more and apply by Feb 28: t.co/imscL4OXVi

Check out this talk from the Objective by the Sea 🍏- security conference. Citizen Lab senior researcher @billmarczak and @Microsoft's Christine Fossaceca discuss the discovery of QuaDream’s spyware and the zero-click exploit likely used to deliver it. t.co/yHFxyLVmB2

📹 In this episode of Zoom In Zoom Out on @taiwanplusnews, The Citizen Lab’s senior researcher Rebekah Brown (@PDXBek) talks about the commercial spyware industry, its misuse by governments, and the urgent need for regulation. t.co/qBwEJuhItm

Check out this powerful story from @CBCTheNational where host @adriearsenault speaks with the Citizen Lab’s @RonDeibert and @nouraaljizawi about the growing issue of foreign intimidation of exiled dissidents in Canada. t.co/qsmoDKymFs

Thailand’s role on the @UN_HRC is being called into question following its controversial deportation of six Cambodian dissidents. In an interview with @Diplomat_APAC, @mmichae1sen, senior researcher at the Citizen Lab, cautions that Thailand is now a dangerous territory for political exiles fleeing repression. Read the article: t.co/iU6Fk36ArJ #humanrights #transnationalrepression

🎧 In this episode of @CyberSecCenter’s Distilling Cyber Policy podcast, the Citizen Lab’s senior researchers @PDXbek and @jsrailton discuss the Citizen Lab’s “Rivers of Phish” report, which exposed a sophisticated phishing campaign targeting Russia’s perceived adversaries. t.co/moYZAKUYtR #cybersecurity #COLDRIVER

In an open letter to @melaniejoly, @DLeBlancNB & @viraniarif, NGOs and individual experts, including Citizen Lab’s @RonDeibert, @nouraaljizawi, @jon_penney, and @KateRobertson_, urge Canada to reject adoption of the UN’s draft Convention against Cybercrime. Read the letter on @OpenMediaOrg: t.co/1HDzQ7R9Gg #Cybercrime #humanrights #Canada

President-elect Trump’s notable shift in position on TikTok’s shutdown could have major implications for U.S.-China ties. Experts warn TikTok could potentially become a bargaining chip in the U.S.-China trade talks. Citizen Lab research associate @emiledirks points towards a key dilemma in balancing economic interests with national security concerns. @BobbyAllyn writes for @NPR: t.co/IMABwambMp

Watch @DeptFirst's video for the full story behind our latest joint investigation: t.co/RDaEWPeZJ3

Read our new report: "Something to Remember Us By: Device Confiscated by Russian Authorities Returned With Monokle-type Spyware Installed" ✍️ by @cooperq, @PDXbek, and @jsrailton t.co/XPkogcCndq t.co/1BfvAo2woJ

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