Who We Are
The Citizen Lab is a world-renowned research unit led by Professor Ronald J. Deibert at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. We investigate novel threats to democracy, human rights, and global security in the digital ecosystem.
Vision
The Citizen Lab was founded in 2001 by Ron Deibert, an award-winning professor of political science at the University of Toronto. His vision was to create a university-based research lab that draws on interdisciplinary expertise to investigate wrongdoing in the digital realm. Today, the Citizen Lab remains steadfast in its mission to provide counterintelligence to civil society and advance the field of digital accountability research.
Impact
Over the past 25 years, the Citizen Lab’s evidence-based research has played a critical role in demonstrating how digital technologies are used to undermine human rights. The Citizen Lab has published more than 180 evidence-based, peer-reviewed research reports, available online.
The Lab’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Globe and Mail, The Guardian, BBC, and TechCrunch, as well as cited by policymakers, academics, and civil society as being foundational to understanding digital technologies, human rights, and global security.
Lifting the lid off the Internet since 2001
How We Work
We apply our collective expertise in the fields of law, computer science, cybersecurity, political science, and social sciences to investigate complex issues of the 21st century, such as:
- How do governments use technology to censor, surveil, and suppress civil society?
- How secure are the apps on our phones?
- Does the law adequately protect our digital (human) rights?
- What vulnerabilities in the digital ecosystem pose a risk to human rights, democracy, and global security?
To answer these questions, we collaborate with groups and communities under threat, and partner with peer research organizations around the world.
As an academic research unit at the University of Toronto, the Citizen Lab operates independent of government and corporate interests and evaluates the ethical and legal implications of all its projects.
Focus Areas
Get to know our work by exploring these focus areas
How We Are Funded
Financial support for the Citizen Lab has been provided by:
- Canada Centre for Global Security Studies
- Donner Canadian Foundation
- Ford Foundation (2001 – ongoing)
- Hewlett Foundation
- HIVOS
- Hopewell Fund
- International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (current)
- Oak Foundation
- Open Society Foundations (current)
- Psiphon Inc
- The Sigrid Rausing Trust
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation
- Start Small Foundation (current)
We are grateful for in-kind donations of investigative tools from companies including: HYAS, VirusTotal, Cisco’s AMP Threat Grid Team and others.
Donate to the Citizen Lab
Your support plays an essential role in sustaining the quality, independence and impact of our work. Donations are welcomed and appreciated. To provide financial support for the Citizen Lab, please visit our page on the University of Toronto’s fundraising portal.
Awards & Recognition
2015
Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award
2014
The MacArthur Foundation’s MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions
2014
New Digital Age Grant from Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt
2013
The Canadian Library Association’s Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada Award
2011
The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom’s Press Freedom Award
2010
The Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s Vox Libera Award