iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 23/09/2026

Join senior researcher @wchr.bsky.social at @re-publica.com in Vienna on October 2nd to discuss how government agencies are accessing behavioural data from online advertising for surveillance purposes. Register here: tickets.infield.live/event/re-pub...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 22/09/2026

Join Citizen Lab director @rondeibert.bsky.social in Toronto for his keynote speech at SecTor on October 7. He will be speaking about the Citizen Lab’s decades of work acting as “counterintelligence for civil society.” Register: sector.informafestivals.com/2026/

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 14/09/2026

Join @cyn-k.bsky.social tomorrow, September 15th at 7PM ET, for @civictechto.bsky.social Meetup #560. She will present a recent joint brief by @citizenlab.ca and @cancivlib.bsky.social that analyzes the privacy and human rights implications of Bill C-22. Register here: guild.host/events/civic...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 31/08/2026

🔈 Join senior researcher @irenepoet.bsky.social at Data for Policy 2026 on September 8-10. She will be presenting on how AI systems have facilitated the consolidation of state authority differently in India and Vietnam. Register: dataforpolicy.org/dfp26-regist...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 17/07/2026

WATCH: Last week, the European Parliament had a debate on #spyware after we found that a former MEP's phone was hacked with #Pegasus. The consensus: the crisis is getting worse. @hneumannmep.bsky.social @saskiabricmont.bsky.social @lukassiepermdep.bsky.social @danusenerudova.bsky.social

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 12/06/2026

As part of World Press Freedom Day 2026, @sanstis.bsky.social will be speaking on a webinar titled “Media Under Attack,” part of @fpcthinktank.bsky.social “Media Freedom Under Threat” series. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 09/04/2026

Other products developed by Cobwebs are also concerning, as are its ties to controversial spyware vendor Quadream via Omri Timianker, who founded Cobwebs Technologies and now oversees Penlink’s international operations.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 09/04/2026

Location data collected from apps and digital advertising can reveal habits, interests and almost any other aspect of someone's life. The misuse of consumer data raises concerns, especially when used to target vulnerable groups such as immigrants or protesters.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 09/04/2026

Webloc provides access to data on hundreds of millions of people across the globe, which is constantly harvested from the apps installed on their mobile devices. Customers can use it to monitor the movements and personal characteristics of entire populations, including their past locations.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 09/04/2026

Based on the responses to 96 freedom of information requests, we conclude that governments in Europe and the UK are highly nontransparent about their potential use of ad-based surveillance.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 09/04/2026

Webloc customers also include the national police in El Salvador and US law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, including ICE, US military, Texas Dept. of Public Safety, and Dept of Homeland Security West Virginia.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 09/03/2026

BOOK LAUNCH: Join the Citizen Lab’s @penney.bsky.social @rondeibert.bsky.social, and Kate Robertson as they discuss Penney’s new book, "Chilling Effects: Repression, Conformity, and Power in the Digital Age." 🕠 March 12, 5:30 pm ✅ RSVP: machformext.osgoode.yorku.ca/machform/vie...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 12/02/2026

On Feb 19 join the Citizen Lab's Kate Robertson to discuss the role of technology and the current state of play in border externalization. Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 21/01/2026

On its one-year anniversary, @rondeibert.bsky.social Chasing Shadows is now out in paperback with a new afterword + endorsement by @margaretatwood.bsky.social Order a copy here: chasingshadowsbook.ca

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 27/11/2025

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...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 19/11/2025

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

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 17/11/2025

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...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 29/07/2025

"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...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 05/06/2025

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...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 13/05/2025

Join us on May 21 for a hybrid workshop to explore digital sovereignty, the methodologies for its study, & the global trend around sovereignty in the digital world. Learn more & register here: cis.cnrs.fr/metrics-of-s...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 06/05/2025

Come work with us! We are looking for a creative and self-motivated communications professional to join our team this summer in the role of Digital Communications Specialist. This is a FT, hybrid position based at @uoft.bsky.social in downtown Toronto. Learn more: citizenlab.ca/2025/05/job-...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 16/04/2025

This campaign had significant real-life impact through a multidimensional attack on the Thai pro-democracy movement. Judicial harassment and physical assaults were also part of the toolkit utilized in this operation.

A photo of of Itthikorn Sapchang lying on the ground immediately after the assault he suffered on March 20, 2021, following his participation in a protest in Bangkok. We blurred this image due to graphic nature of the content. See the original image linked in our report.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 16/04/2025

Who’s behind it? 🔎 Thanks to the recent leak of classified military documents, we can attribute the campaign to the Royal Thai Armed Forces and/or the Royal Thai Police, whose online repression efforts have allegedly been merged into a joint “Cyber Team” since 2023.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 16/04/2025

Through analysis of public social media posts, we determined that the campaign was not only inauthentic, but the information revealed in doxxing posts could not have been reasonably sourced from a private individual.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 16/04/2025

The influence operation, which is still active today, uses a fake persona - "Ms. Juk Khlong Sam" (jjookklong3) - on social media platforms (primarily X and Facebook) to target Thai pro-democracy protesters and suppress dissent.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 26/03/2025

Come work with us! We are looking for an IT professional to join our team in the role of Systems and Security Administrator. Interested? Learn more and apply by April 18 ➡️ citizenlab.ca/2025/03/job-...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 17/03/2025

Join our senior researchers @noura.bsky.social, @sanstis.bsky.social & @mmichae1sen.bsky.social on 03/24 for a virtual presentation and Q&A about tackling gender-based digital transnational repression. Learn more and register to attend 👇 citizenlab.ca/2025/03/onli...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 07/03/2025

Hey #SanFrancisco - catch @rondeibert.bsky.social's book talk on March 10 at @citylightsbooks.bsky.social. He will be joined by @eff.org’s Cindy Cohn and Eva Galperin to celebrate the release of his new book Chasing Shadows. Get tickets: citylights.com/events/an-ev...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 06/03/2025

NEW BOOK: 'Transnational Repression and International Law' co-authored by The Citizen Lab's @sanstis.bsky.social is out now. It explores the issue of state-sponsored extraterritorial killings and the international legal frameworks to counter them. ⚖️ Order here: www.nomos-shop.de/en/p/transna...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 06/03/2025

Paragon in Italy 🇮🇹: A New European Spyware Scandal Tune in for this event on Mar 13 featuring Citizen Lab senior researcher @jsrailton.bsky.social. Register: saskiabricmont.typeform.com/to/GS4q80vj?...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 28/02/2025

On Mar 5, join director and founder of The Citizen Lab @rondeibert.bsky.social in conversation with award-winning national security reporter Ellen Nakashima at the International Spy Museum. Attend in-person or virtually. 🎟️ Register: bit.ly/41w6dK3

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 05/02/2025

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 online attacks since fleeing home. Learn more: citizenlab.ca/case-studies... #digitaltransnationalrepression

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 04/02/2025

Mariam is an exiled human rights activist living in Denmark. She was targeted by the Bahraini government with intense gendered online attacks, surveillance, and defamation campaigns in an attempt to silence her voice. Read her story ✊🏽 citizenlab.ca/case-studies... #digitaltransnationalrepression

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 31/01/2025

Spyware attacks, censorship, social media hacking, DDoS attacks, surveillance, and smear campaigns are just some of the tactics used by the #Azerbaijani government to silence women activists. Learn more about this growing threat: citizenlab.ca/case-studies...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 31/01/2025

#Iran is a perpetrator of transnational repression, using digital methods to silence dissent across borders. Phishing campaigns are used to steal personal information, while state-run media spreads defamatory content aimed at discrediting women. More about it here: citizenlab.ca/case-studies...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 31/01/2025

China’s repression of #Uyghurs in #Xinjiang extends beyond borders to target women Uyghur activists and their families, using digital threats, harassment, surveillance, and smear campaigns to silence human rights advocacy. Read our country spotlight here: citizenlab.ca/case-studies...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 30/01/2025

The #Eritrean government uses digital transnational repression to silence women activists with online campaigns of gendered abuse, stalking, and doxxing, targeting their reputation, jobs and families. Read our country case study here: citizenlab.ca/case-studies...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 30/01/2025

Exiled #Russian activists, journalists, and dissidents have been facing escalating transnational repression since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Under-resourced women activists and indigenous voices are a primary target of #Russian state actors. Read more here: citizenlab.ca/case-studies...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 30/01/2025

The #Turkish government uses digital tactics to intimidate critics, especially women, through online trolling, surveillance-by-proxy, and harassment from loyalist groups in the diaspora. #Turkiye Read our country spotlight here: citizenlab.ca/case-studies...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 24/01/2025

Due to the recent prorogation of 🇨🇦 Parliament, a written submission prepared to accompany @noura.bsky.social's testimony could not be presented to the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights #SDIR. Read the written submission here: citizenlab.ca/wp-content/u...

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 08/01/2025

The suspected exploit, which we call ENDOFDAYS, appears to make use of invisible iCloud calendar invitations sent from the spyware’s operator to victims. #OBTS #QuaDreams

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 12/12/2024

NGOs and individual experts, including Citizen Lab's @rondeibert.bsky.social, @noura.bsky.social, @penney.bsky.social, and Kate Robertson, urge Canada to reject the UN's draft Convention against Cybercrime in an open letter to @melaniejolycan.bsky.social, Hon Dominic LeBlanc & Hon Arif Virani.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 02/12/2024

Threats often targeted exiled women human rights defenders who were in a position to mobilize international attention, causing authoritarian governments reputational damage and increased external scrutiny. #OnlineHarassment #TransnationalRepression #16DaysofActivism

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 02/12/2024

Respondents identified the perpetrators of these attacks were as government actors, state-backed trolls, inauthentic accounts, regime supporters, and other diaspora members with misogynistic ideas.

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 02/12/2024

Our study found that activists in exile are digitally targeted using tools and techniques including social media surveillance, hacking of devices and social accounts, online harassment, disinformation, and more tactics aimed at discrediting them. #OnlineHarassment #TransnationalRepression

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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 26/11/2024

The Citizen Lab’s Kate Robertson testified before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Veterans Affairs on #BillC26. She calls for stronger judicial oversight, protection for encryption, and transparency obligations. Read the submission here👇 sencanada.ca/Content/Sen/...

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