mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06The Citizen Lab is an interdisciplinary laboratory based at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto, focusing on research, development, and high-level strategic policy and legal engagement at the intersection of information and communication technologies, human rights, and global security.
We use a “mixed methods” approach to research combining practices from political science, law, computer science, and area studies.
⚠️ New legal analysis by The Citizen Lab’s Cynthia Khoo and Kate Robertson warns of the constitutional dangers posed by the Canada-U.S. #CLOUDAct.
If signed, the agreement would extend the reach of U.S. law enforcement into Canada’s digital terrain to an unprecedented extent.
Read it here: https://citizenlab.ca/2025/02/canada-us-cross-border-surveillance-cloud-act/
📢 Work with us! The Citizen Lab is looking for a Systems & Security Technical Lead to join our team. This is a unique opportunity to shape the strategic and tactical approach to risk management, systems security & compliance at The Citizen Lab. Apply by February 20 👉 https://citizenlab.ca/2025/01/job-posting-systems-sec-tech-lead/
New legal commentary by The Citizen Lab’s Cynthia Khoo and Kate Robertson warns of the constitutional dangers posed by a potential Canada-U.S. CLOUD Act agreement. If signed, this would extend the reach of U.S. law enforcement into Canada’s digital terrain to an unprecedented extent.
Read it here: https://citizenlab.ca/2025/02/canada-us-cross-border-surveillance-cloud-act/
Dounia is an exiled journalist living in France. After exposing Morocco's use of #spyware against politicians, she became the target of physical and sexual harassment, spread across both traditional media and social platforms. Even while in #China, #Morocco continued to harass her, forcing her to flee to #France, where the online attacks continued.
Read her story of resilience: https://citizenlab.ca/case-studies/dounia-filali-a-journalist-from-morocco/ #digitaltransnationalrepression
Imagine having your home address splattered all over the internet. Meryem, an activist living in the US, knows exactly what that’s like. She faces relentless online harassment from Chinese state-backed trolls as she fights for #Uyghur rights. Her fight is made even harder because she is a woman. Learn about the price she’s paid: https://citizenlab.ca/case-studies/meryem-a-human-rights-activist-from-xinjiang-china/ #digitaltransnationalrepression
After Fatima fled to the UK, the Syrian state-sponsored attacks continued. Both the regime and anti-regime groups continue to target her, both online and offline, making her journalism a high-risk endeavour. With her family used as leverage, she has been pressured to self-censor. Learn how these attacks impact her life and work: https://citizenlab.ca/case-studies/fatima-a-journalist-from-syria/ #digitaltransnationalrepression
✒️Even after Assad’s fall, #disinformation in #Syria is thriving. In an opinion piece The Citizen Lab’s @noura@infosec.exchange discusses how new trends and tactics have emerged, and how foreign powers and non-state actors exploit social media to manipulate narratives and spread fear.
Read more here: https://timep.org/2025/01/30/truth-in-transition-disinformation-in-post-assad-syria/
In a Q&A for the Digital Front Lines report by Foreign Policy Analytics (@foreignpolicy@mastodon.world) human rights activist Carine Kanimba and The Citizen Lab director @rondeibert@ioc.exchange discuss the human toll of spyware and call for collaboration between civil society, tech firms, and governments to combat its abuse.
https://digitalfrontlines.io/2025/01/31/spyware-human-toll-cyber-mercenaries/
#spyware
After playing a key role in the #Yemenuprising, Arwa sought refuge in the EU. But digital threats know no borders. From leaked personal photos to family shaming, Arwa’s experienced a flurry of online attacks since fleeing home. Read Arwa’s story to learn how she continues to fight for human rights through a new medium, art 🎨 https://citizenlab.ca/case-studies/arwa-an-activist-from-yemen/
#digitaltransnationalrepression
In an opinion piece for @globeandmail@flipboard.com The Citizen Lab’s Emile Dirks , @sanstis@ioc.exchange @noura@infosec.exchange and @rondeibert@ioc.exchange underscore how the #HogueCommission’s report missed an opportunity to address transnational repression. Read it here 👇🏽
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-final-hogue-report-was-a-missed-opportunity-to-tackle/
Last week CityNews journalist Faiza Amin sat down with @rondeibert@ioc.exchange to discuss his new book Chasing Shadows and the dangerous rise of unregulated mercenary surveillance. Watch it here:
https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2025/02/05/new-book-details-concerning-global-cyber-security-issues/
On Mar 5, join director and founder of The Citizen Lab @rondeibert@ioc.exchange in conversation with award-winning national security reporter Ellen Nakashima at the International Spy Museum.
Attend in-person or virtually.
🎟️ Register: https://bit.ly/41w6dK3
President Trump delayed the U.S. #TikTok ban, but is his executive order legally sound? The Citizen Lab’s @penney@mastodon.social writes for the @globeandmail@flipboard.com questioning whether the move addresses privacy and national security issues or is purely about political power.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-tiktok-ban-is-already-dead-in-the-water/
