Ron Deibert

@[email protected]
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I am the founder and current Director of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, where I'm also a political scientist.
email[email protected]
websitehttps://deibert.citizenlab.ca/
Ron DeibertJan 16, 2023

New @citizenlab report out today that details plans for Iran's far-reaching mobile surveillance system

Including details on firms from the UK 🇬🇧 (Telinsol), Russia 🇷🇺 (Protei) and Canada 🇨🇦 (PortaOne) that undertook extensive negotiations to help build it. (There is some uncertainty about whether the agreements were finalized and lawyers for two of the firms said they pulled out).

It's a wild story. Read the details here: https://citizenlab.ca/2023/01/uncovering-irans-mobile-legal-intercept-system/

You Move, They Follow: Uncovering Iran’s Mobile Legal Intercept System - The Citizen Lab

Citizen Lab examined a set of documents leaked to news outlet The Intercept that describe plans to develop and launch an Iranian mobile network, including subscriber management operations and services, and integration with a legal intercept solution. If implemented fully as envisioned, it would enable state authorities to directly monitor, intercept, redirect, degrade or deny all Iranians’ mobile communications, including those who are presently challenging the regime.

The Citizen Lab
Ron DeibertDec 12, 2022
I have a new article out in Foreign Affairs called "The Autocrat in your iPhone: How Mercenary Spyware Threatens Democracy." The article is paywall free right now here; https://www.foreignaffairs.com/world/autocrat-in-your-iphone-mercenary-spyware-ronald-deibert
The Autocrat in Your iPhone

How mercenary spyware threatens democracy.

Foreign Affairs
Ron DeibertNov 28, 2022
Noura AljizawiNov 25, 2022
Exposing how Iran tracks and threatens people in Canada, CBC spoke to victims of transnational repression and digital transnational repression who are being threatened by the IRI.
CBC also featured our work @citizenlab @rondeibert @insyria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yB0JaTHzpo
Exposing how Iran tracks and threatens people in Canada

YouTube
Ron DeibertNov 28, 2022
Show threadNoura AljizawiNov 25, 2022
@citizenlab @rondeibert @insyria
In March this year, we released our first report on digital transnational repression in Canada
"Psychological and Emotional War- Digital Transnational Repression in Canada"
https://citizenlab.ca/2022/03/psychological-emotional-war-digital-transnational-repression-canada/
Psychological and Emotional War: Digital Transnational Repression in Canada - The Citizen Lab

In this report, we describe how activists and dissidents living in Canada are impacted by digital transnational repression. We conclude that digital transnational repression has a serious impact on these communities, including their ability to undertake transnational advocacy work related to human rights. Yet, there is little support for victims who experience such targeting and policy efforts by the Canadian government to date have been insufficient.

The Citizen Lab
Ron DeibertNov 15, 2022

Great investigation by ICIJ and Pro Publica

#ShadowDiplomats

"Accused terror financiers, arms traffickers and drug runners among hundreds of rogue diplomats, global investigation reveals"

https://www.icij.org/investigations/shadow-diplomats/accused-terror-financiers-arms-drug-traffickers/

Another example of organized subversion of the international order by autocrats and gangsters

Accused terror financiers, arms traffickers and drug runners among hundreds of rogue diplomats, global investigation reveals - ICIJ

Honorary consuls are meant to foster ties between countries. But criminals and others accused of exploiting the position have infiltrated their ranks.

ICIJ
Ron DeibertNov 8, 2022

Great to see the European Parliament's PEGA Committee first draft out.

Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld has called out member states for lack of transparency, and gives a nod to the work of @citizenlab, @amnesty, and investigative journalists to uncover abuses and raise awareness.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/08/dutch-mep-says-spyware-a-grave-threat-to-democracy

Dutch MEP says illegal spyware ‘a grave threat to democracy’

European Commission wears ‘velvet gloves’ when dealing with spyware used on citizens, says chief of inquiry on hacking software such as Pegasus

The Guardian
Ron DeibertNov 8, 2022

Tomorrow, the European Parliament's #Pegasus Committee will release the first draft of its report.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221107IPR49201/press-conference-on-draft-findings-of-ep-spyware-inquiry

This committee represents an important first step on the road towards greater accountability over the mercenary spyware industry! Looking forward to discussing the draft report!

Press conference on draft findings of EP spyware inquiry | News | European Parliament

On Tuesday 8 November, Sophie In ‘t Veld, the rapporteur for the Inquiry Committee investigating Pegasus and equivalent spyware, will present a first version of their results.