Ronald Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab, took extreme precautions in April 2025 when traveling to Illinois, purchasing new electronic devices upon arrival to mitigate the risk of surveillance. Deibert, who left his personal devices at home in Toronto, believes his work at the Citizen Lab makes him a target. "I'm traveling under the assumption that I am being watched, right down to exactly where I am at any moment," Deibert said.
The Citizen Lab, a research center founded by Deibert in 2001 and housed at the University of Toronto, operates as a counterintelligence service for civil society. The institution investigates cyberthreats exclusively in the public interest, exposing significant digital abuses over the past two decades. Its work involves identifying and analyzing sophisticated spyware and other tools used to target journalists, human rights activists, and other members of civil society.
For years, Deibert and his colleagues viewed the United States as a benchmark for liberal democracy, but that perspective is evolving. The Citizen Lab's investigations have revealed instances where democratic governments have employed surveillance technologies in ways that challenge civil liberties. The center's findings have prompted legal challenges, policy changes, and increased awareness of the risks associated with digital surveillance.
The Citizen Lab's work has had a significant impact on the technology industry, prompting companies to address vulnerabilities in their products and improve security measures. The organization's research has also contributed to a broader public discussion about the ethical implications of surveillance technologies and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
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