Belarusian KGB put spyware on phones of detained journalist. Growing list of cases where authoritarian regimes use detention to implant spyware on phones: 🦠Belarus 🦠Kenya 🦠Serbia And likely plenty more. Important investigation & reminder that dictators don't always need zero-days.

An excellent & very disturbing overview of the scope & scale of domestic surveillance systems deployed in the US 🇺🇸 by @peter.andringa.me @financialtimes.com 👇 Ostensibly for deportation, these can (& likely are) being fine-tuned for deployment on critics of the Trump regime -- a chilling prospect

Add this one to the many other reasons why I've been declining invitations to attend anything in the United States. U.S. 🇺🇸 Plans to Scrutinize Foreign Tourists’ Social Media History www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/t...

Today at 11 am ET: Senior research associate Kate Robertson will be testifying on Bill C-8 in the 🇨🇦 House of Commons SECU Committee Meeting. Watch live: www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentView... #cdnpoli

New paper from @gabriellelim.bsky.social @noura.bsky.social et al. on the methodology of digital rights governance research and avoiding the “kitchen sink approach.” Read it in Internet Policy Review: policyreview.info/articles/ana...

PODCAST: Senior fellow @cyn-k.bsky.social discusses the issues with Canada’s ‘national sprint’ on AI, calling it “a slap in the face to anyone who’s been harmed by these kinds of reckless approaches to technology.” Listen to the episode here: rabble.ca/podcast/the-... #cdnpoli

AI is reshaping how we live, work, and communicate. But how will it change democracy? On Dec 2 join #UofT's Bruce Schneier, Beth Coleman & @rondeibert.bsky.social for "Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship." munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/rewiri...

🔔 Upcoming webinar! Join us for a timely conversation on how #digitalrepression and #surveillance are reshaping women’s participation in peacebuilding and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Nov 26 @ 9:30 am ET More info: citizenlab.ca/2025/11/webi...

Join us on Nov 26 to explore how gender, technology, and authoritarianism intersect to shape women’s participation in peace and security. Get info & register: citizenlab.ca/2025/11/webi... @amnesty.org @sheassociates.bsky.social @mmichae1sen.bsky.social @noura.bsky.social @sanstis.bsky.social

On Dec 11, tune in for @rondeibert.bsky.social's conversation w/ @signal.org president @meredithmeredith.bsky.social about the critical lessons learned from the Signalgate scandal at @financialtimes.com #FTGlobalBoardroom conference. Learn more: globalboardroom.ft.com/agenda/sessi...

WEBINAR 👉 Join us for a timely conversation on how digital repression and surveillance are reshaping women’s participation in peacebuilding and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. 🗓️ Nov 26 at 9:30 am ET / 3:30 pm CET 📍Online 🔗 Register: munkschool-utoronto-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

On Nov 18, Citizen Lab senior fellow @cyn-k.bsky.social will deliver a talk titled “Civil Rights and Modeling the AI Legislation We Need” at the Canadian Conference on AI Governance. Learn more: www.eventbrite.ca/e/canadian-c...

What used to be bugs and informants is now #spyware. Bringing together victims of #Stasi surveillance and #spyware to discuss: How can we protect #freedom in the digital age? 🗓️ November 12, 18:30 #BerlinFreedomWeek Register here 👇 www.berlin-freedom-week.com/en/event/sta...

YIKES: NSO floats Pegasus spyware used in hypothetical "time of domestic crisis" in 🇺🇸America. I believe they won't stop lobbying until they get Pegasus into USA. To hack Americans. 1/

What used to be bugs and informants is now #spyware. How can we protect #freedom in the digital age? 🗓️ November 12, 6:30 PM #BerlinFreedomWeek More information & registration 👇 www.berlin-freedom-week.com/en/event/sta...

Researchers at the Citizen Lab and director @rondeibert.bsky.social sign open letter to the Canadian Minister of AI and Minister of Industry rejecting the “National Sprint” on AI strategy. Read it here: bccla.org/policy-submi...

“It’s astonishing how the industry is able to experiment on human populations with such far-reaching technology and largely unrestrained.” Citizen Lab director @rondeibert.bsky.social discusses the ethical risks of AI in an interview with the @financialpost.com. financialpost.com/technology/c...

Citizen Lab's @fittarelli.com speaks with Negar Mortazavi about Israel-linked influence operations pushing for regime change in Iran. Listen to the episode here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Citizen Lab director @rondeibert.bsky.social receives SFU’s Sterling Prize for his groundbreaking work at the intersection of global security, digital technologies and human rights. youtu.be/41wkXFyEsP8

Citizen Lab's founder & director @rondeibert.bsky.social has been awarded the Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy from Simon Fraser University.

NEW: Pegasus spyware coming to America? An ex-Adam Sandler producer with ties to China is trying to acquire NSO Group. Again. Simonds fronted this before in 2023 & failed. But the backers haven't given up. Why? Where is the money coming from? 1/ www.globes.co.il/news/article...

NEW: fresh trouble for mercenary spyware companies like NSO. #Apple is launching fat bounties on the zero-click exploits that feed the supply chain behind products like Pegasus & Paragon's Graphite. With bonuses, exploit developers can land $5 million payouts. security.apple.com/blog/apple-s...

Now we're seeing confirmation of the NSO acquisition. Mark my words, this is the path through which Pegasus gets put on Americans iPhones & Androids. This dictatorship-in-a-box belongs nowhere near our constitutional rights.

NEW REPORT: We uncovered a coordinated network of fake X profiles that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in #Iran. We call this network “PRISONBREAK”. Read the report 👉 citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...

JOB ALERT: We are recruiting for the newly created role of Information Security Program Manager. Apply by Sept 30. citizenlab.ca/2025/09/job-...

NEW: Spyware installed on Kenyan filmmakers' phones in police custody @citizenlab.ca confirms cpj.org?p=516177

"Canada's new Minister of AI must not be naive to its harms" @rondeibert.bsky.social's latest oped in @theglobeandmail.com

Thanks @ronanfarrow.bsky.social for your excellent insights on this topic 👇

NEW: Mercenary spyware is coming to the US. ICE just quietly unsuspended their contract with spyware maker #Paragon. Remember them? Caught earlier this year being used to hack Italian journalists. This is bad, let's talk about how we got here 1/ jackpoulson.substack.com/p/exclusive-...

Join the Citizen Lab’s Kate Robertson on Aug 27 at a webinar co-hosted by @iclmg-csilc.bsky.social on Canada’s Bill C-2. She will be joined by privacy & migrant rights experts to discuss what’s at stake with 🇨🇦's “Strong Borders” Act. Register: iclmg.ca/webinar-stop...

Citizen Lab director warns cyber industry about US authoritarian descent

"The impacts of transnational repression (TNR) are far-reaching, with detrimental effects on individuals' social, psychological, and physical well-being." @noura.bsky.social, @sanstis.bsky.social, and Gözde Böcü examine the impacts of TNR in their new article: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

Writing for @policyoptions.irpp.org, the Citizen Lab’s Kate Robertson and Song-Ly Tran discuss how 🇨🇦 Canada’s outdated wiretap laws fail to protect Canadians from spyware abuse. Read it here: policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/ju...

I am honoured and excited to be delivering a keynote @blackhatevents.bsky.social 🇺🇸 2025 Come hear about the history of @citizenlab.ca, our investigations into mercenary spyware and other abuses, and what keeps me up at night! www.blackhat.com/us-25/briefi...

🛰️ New article co-authored by the Citizen Lab's @gabriellelim.bsky.social discusses the risks of privatized space technology. Published in @techpolicypress.bsky.social Read it here: www.techpolicy.press/a-match-made...

New op-ed by our director @rondeibert.bsky.social takes a look at the G7 Leaders' Statement on transnational repression. Published today in @theglobeandmail.com

Why are governments around the world tightening laws on misinformation? The Citizen Lab’s @gabriellelim.bsky.social examines the global surge of misinformation legislation in this new article👇

Keir Giles has been targeted *again* by allegedly Russian hackers — this time using a clever new trick intended to bypass 2-factor authentication. Over the years I’ve written about Giles an unusual amount, and I have an idea about why. First, the coverage: www.reuters.com/technology/s...

NEW REPORT: Russia's state-backed hackers have a new trick. In collab w/ Google Threat Intelligence Group, we investigated an attack against prominent Russian expert @keirgiles.bsky.social & uncovered an elaborate attack targeting App-Specific Passwords (ASPs). citizenlab.ca/2025/06/russ...

I was encouraged to see the #G7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression which also calls out mitigating harms around mercenary spyware 👇🇨🇦 www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/stat...

And @raphae.li @reuters.com www.reuters.com/business/med...

There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about Canada's 🇨🇦 new proposed border security legislation Fortunately we have @kate-ro.bsky.social @citizenlab.ca to untangle them for us. Details below 👇

🇨🇦A new federal border security bill is being proposed in #Canada that would open the door to expanded data-sharing agreements with the U.S. and other foreign countries. Read our analysis of Bill C-2 here: citizenlab.ca/2025/06/a-pr...

NEW: Researchers found forensic evidence of Paragon's spyware on the iPhones of two journalists. One is Ciro Pellegrino, who works for @fanpage.it. The other is an unnamed prominent European journalist. Looks like the spyware scandal that for now has focused on Italy may expand further in Europe.

NEW REPORT: Our forensic analysis confirms ✅ two more European journalists targeted with Paragon's Graphite spyware. Read it here: citizenlab.ca/2025/06/firs...

And here's our original report that kicked all of this off 👇 Paragon marketed itself as the responsible alternative to NSO. But without proper safeguards & oversight, it's not clear any firm canmake such claims when it comes to how govts will abuse their hacking tech citizenlab.ca/2025/03/a-fi...

NEW: #Google's #Android 16 to feature optional high security mode. Cool! It's the 'turn this one thing on if you face elevated risk' that we've been asking for from Google. Bunch of requested features that address the kinds of threats we worry about. Let's dig in a bit 1/

Circumventing internet censorship in Indonesia is getting harder. @irenepoet.bsky.social examines Indonesia’s use of DNS redirection to censor online content and how it impacts free expression in her essay published by @carnegieendowment.org. Read here: carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

Canada 🇨🇦's Liberal govt has proposed a new "Border Security Bill," in large part in response to pressures from 🇺🇸 I raised concerns about that back in March 2025 👇 macleans.ca/politics/the...

What exactly sets foreign interference apart from influence? On June 9, join the Citizen Lab’s @emiledirks.bsky.social for an online session that will explore the evolving landscape of China’s transnational influence and repression efforts. Register here: canadachinaforum.ca/2025/05/the-...