In our first investigation into Israel-based spyware company, Paragon Solutions, we begin to untangle multiple threads connected to the proliferation of Paragon’s mercenary spyware operations across the globe. This report includes an infrastructure analysis of Paragon’s spyware product, called Graphite; a forensic analysis of infected devices belonging to members of civil society; and a closer look at the use of Paragon spyware in both Canada and Italy.

Featured Publications

Canada-U.S. Cross-Border Surveillance Negotiations Raise Constitutional and Human Rights Whirlwind under U.S. CLOUD Act

Legal researchers Cynthia Khoo and Kate Robertson warn that a Canada-U.S. CLOUD agreement would extend the reach of U.S. law enforcement into Canada’s digital terrain to an unprecedented extent, and that if signed, this agreement would effectively allow U.S. police to demand personal data directly from any provider of an “electronic communication service” or “remote computing service” in Canada, so long as it had some ties to the U.S.

Lifting the lid off the Internet.

The Citizen Lab is an interdisciplinary laboratory based at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto, focusing on research and development at the intersection of information and communication technologies, human rights, and global security. Learn more.

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Features & News

How Cyber Espionage Threatens Democracy in the Age of Trump (The Agenda)

In this interview with TVO The Agenda’s Steve Paikin, Citizen Lab director Ron Deibert discusses his recent trip to the White House, the impact that the Trump administration’s policies will have on cyber security worldwide, and why Canadians should be concerned by a potential bilateral surveillance agreement with the U.S. 

The Citizen Lab’s Director Dissects Spyware and the ‘Proliferating’ Market for It (The Record)

In this Q&A by The Record from Recorded Future News, Citizen Lab director Ron Deibert speaks with cyber security reporter Suzanne Smalley about the technical aspects of the Citizen Lab’s research methods, why there is almost certainly spyware being used that hasn’t yet been discovered, and how spyware companies continue to evolve to evade detection…. Read more »

The United States is Putting the United States in Danger

In an opinion piece for the Globe and Mail, Ron Deibert recounts his comments from a recent briefing he delivered to staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about the Citizen Lab’s research on mercenary surveillance.  He warns that “U.S. actions to undermine the rule of law, politicize intelligence and undercut civil society… Read more »

The U.S. Wants Canada to Become A Police State

In an opinion piece for Maclean’s, Ron Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab, warns of the increasing infringement on human rights as Canada continues to appease the Trump administration.  “Since Trump took office, Canada has continued these new deployments, adding 15 surveillance towers with high-resolution cameras, alongside new drones, four Black Hawk helicopters and a… Read more »

Job Opportunity – Systems and Security Administrator

Req ID: 42298 Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science Department: Citizen Lab Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto) Position Number: 00035221 Description: About us: The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching… Read more »

Book Talks for Chasing Shadows: March Events

Join The Citizen Lab’s Ron Deibert virtually or in person at one of these upcoming events to celebrate the release of his new book Chasing Shadows: Cyberespionage, Subversion, and the Global Fight for Democracy.   Event dates March 10, San Francisco Hosted by City Lights Bookstore Get tickets March 15, Vancouver Hosted by the Vancouver… Read more »

Featured Video

Gender-based Digital Transnational Repression Explained