In response to a call for input issued by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, Emile Dirks, research associate at The Citizen Lab, prepared a written submission underlining the legal and human rights implications of the collection and usage of biometric recognition data by the People’s Republic of China.

The Citizen Lab’s director Ron Deibert and researchers Lex Gill and Noura Aljizawi are slated to speak at CBC Ideas Week, part of the Stratford Festival, on July 18 and July 20. In panel discussions moderated by CBC Ideas’ host Nahlah Ayed, they will explore efforts throughout history to imagine new possibilities and make them… Read more »

Activists and dissidents living in Canada are impacted by digital transnational repression (DTR) – a tool used by authoritarian governments to continue to harass and intimidate individuals online, even after leaving their country of origin. Join this online event hosted by the Montreal Institute of Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS), where the Citizen Lab’s… Read more »

“What separates benign foreign influence from malign interference? And if foreign-owned platforms like TikTok are used for both interference and influence, how should we respond?” In this piece for Brookings, Diana Fu, associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto and Emile Dirks, research associate at the Citizen Lab, discuss issues like soft… Read more »

The annual Privacy Enhancing Technologies Symposium (PETS) 2024 is underway in Bristol, UK and online, a gathering of privacy experts from around the world to discuss recent advances and new perspectives on research in privacy technologies. On July 16, former Citizen Lab Open Technology Fund (OTF) Information Controls Fellowship Program fellow Benjamin Mixon-Baca will be… Read more »

In response to the United Nations’ call for input to the report of the Special Rapporteur, we made a submission underlining the challenges faced by women human rights defenders (WHRDs) who live in exile or in the diaspora, and the threats they encounter. 

The Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto, is hiring an Informatics Security Analyst and Network Administrator. Reporting to the Systems and Security Technical Lead, the incumbent is responsible for carrying out a range of system and network administration duties which include assisting in the management and oversight of… Read more »

The Parliament of Canada is expected to move forward with Bill C-26, which aims to improve the country’s cyber readiness. In an opinion piece for the Globe and Mail, the Citizen Lab’s Kate Robertson and Ron Deibert caution that the federal bill has the potential to jeopardize the security of telecommunications for everyone in Canada…. Read more »

In a joint investigation with Access Now, we found that seven Russian and Belarusian-speaking independent journalists and opposition activists based in Europe were targeted and/or infected with NSO Group’s Pegasus mercenary spyware.