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," he said.

The Citizen Lab, a research center founded by Deibert in 2001 and housed at the University of Toronto, operates as counterintelligence for civil society. The institution investigates cyberthreats exclusively in the public interest, exposing digital abuses for two decades. Their 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, according to their research. The Citizen Lab's investigations have uncovered instances of government-sponsored surveillance and other digital rights violations, prompting a reevaluation of the digital landscape in the U.S. and other countries.

The Citizen Lab's work has had a significant impact on the cybersecurity industry, prompting increased awareness of the threats posed by spyware and other surveillance technologies. Their research has also led to calls for greater transparency and accountability in the development and use of these tools. The center continues to investigate emerging cyberthreats and advocate for stronger protections for digital rights.