The Citizen Lab

Senior research associate @emiledirks has been elected to serve as a member of @PENCanada's board of directors, chairing the newly-formed Digital Threats committee to explore how digital and emerging technologies are impacting freedom of expression in Canada and around the world: t.co/fMk3QnQGAR

5/ Read @accessnow's recommendations to companies and states here: t.co/mObazFSyJx

4/ This is just the latest in a long line of abuses of Cellebrite’s technology by autocrats around the globe, including against activists in Kenya and Jordan earlier this year: t.co/B8onzaee5C

1/ NEW REPORT: We find that Russian authorities used Cellebrite to gain access to activist Andrey Pivovarov’s phone. Full brief: t.co/KFaRMZREli

2/ Our analysis is confirmed by a document prepared by Russian authorities showing that Cellebrite was used to extract information to aid in Pivovarov’s prosecution.

3/ Importantly, we found that authorities continued to use Cellebrite for political repression even after the company had cancelled its contracts with Russian customers.

Senior fellow Cynthia Khoo writes that Canada's new AI strategy is reorienting democratic functions "around the false god of AI" in @thewalrus t.co/5qRQZf4Ssh

Senior researcher Luis Fernando García participated in a Conversatorio Regional hosted by @FViaLibre on “Technologies of state surveillance, democratic control, and protection of civil space.” Watch here: t.co/oMAjCB4Xk9.

As part of World Press Freedom Day 2026, senior legal advisor Siena Anstis will be speaking on a webinar titled “Media Under Attack,” part of @FPCThinkTank "Freedom Under Threat” series. Register: t.co/7h9Ki5iyCL t.co/B3vNrFc03r

"We believe students aren’t protesting for a very simple reason: They are afraid. They are self-censoring and disengaging from campaign activism to avoid punitive measures," writes senior research fellow @jon_penney in his new essay w/ Bruce Schneier for @ConversationUS. t.co/buRRmFqgwo

Senior research associate @KateRobertson_ writes for @thewalrus about the potential implications of Canada’s proposed Bill C-22 for future data-sharing agreements with foreign law enforcement agencies. t.co/0EDbEC7Da6

These operations point to a shift toward a Military-Civil Fusion model, in which state-aligned objectives are pursued through state-sponsored attacks carried out by private contractors.

The dual targeting of ICIJ by two distinct actors–using different tactics and tradecraft–offers rare insight into China’s broader approach to digital transnational repression.

NEW REPORT🔎 In collaboration with @ICIJorg, we identified two distinct actors aligned with the People’s Republic of China that have been targeting and impersonating journalists and civil society. Full report 👇 t.co/22nNnED9AQ

These threat actors, which we refer to as GLITTER CARP and SEQUIN CARP, have used phishing emails and detailed digital impersonation schemes in an attempt to gain information and login credentials.

5/ For the TL;DR version, read the FAQ 👇 t.co/b7JMiqk3XL

2/ Our findings shed light on how suspected commercial surveillance vendors (CSVs) operate deep inside the global telecom ecosystem.

4/ Our findings highlight systemic weaknesses in global telecom trust models and the urgent need for stronger safeguards.

3/ These actors exploit telecom interconnect providers and leverage access to private operator networks to carry out covert location tracking that persisted for years.

🚨New research reveals how two sophisticated surveillance actors exploited the global telecom ecosystem and, for the first time, directly links combined 3G and 4G network attacks to mobile operator infrastructure. Full report 👇 t.co/NfBNUuewdj t.co/nL8Bvn44in

Join Noura Aljizawi at the inaugural Ottawa Civic Space Summit on April 21, hosted by Cooperation Canada and Resilient Societies: t.co/mEiaehHFGj

She will speak on the “Defend Across Borders: Safe Havens, Exile, and Transnational Repression” panel, discussing mobilization in exile, TNR, and the responsibilities of host states in responding to transnational threats against exiled dissidents and protecting the integrity of their own public spheres.

Senior research associate @emiledirks spoke with @DominoTheoryMag about Xi Jinping’s view of national security in light of U.S. and Israeli cyber operations in Iran: t.co/9Ass5U6vwx

Other products developed by Cobwebs are also concerning, as are its ties to spyware vendor Quadream via Omri Timianker, who founded Cobwebs Technologies and now oversees Penlink’s international operations. t.co/r6WjaI7BPM

Webloc provides access to data on hundreds of millions of people across the globe, which is constantly harvested from the apps installed on their mobile devices. Customers can use it to monitor the movements and personal characteristics of entire populations, including their past locations.

Location data collected from apps and digital advertising can reveal habits, interests and almost any other aspect of someone's life. The misuse of consumer data raises concerns, especially when used to target vulnerable groups such as immigrants or protesters. t.co/8ROctGnefJ

Based on the responses to 96 freedom of information requests, we conclude that governments in Europe and the UK are highly nontransparent about their potential use of ad-based surveillance. t.co/vsSCwghf0j

Webloc customers also include the national police in El Salvador and US law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, including ICE, US military, Texas Dept. of Public Safety, and Dept of Homeland Security West Virginia. t.co/pesCXCudO9

Webloc is a global geolocation surveillance system that monitors hundreds of millions of people based on data purchased from consumer apps and digital advertising. It was developed by Cobwebs Technologies and is now sold by its successor Penlink.

In collaboration with @VSquare_Project, we reveal that Hungarian domestic intelligence has been using Webloc since at least 2022 and continues to use it today. This represents the first confirmation of the use of ad-based surveillance tech in Europe. t.co/XwP0IFuTl5