Editing Citizen Lab

{{Short description|Digital research center at the University of Toronto}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox organization
| image = 
| formation = 2001
| logo = Citizen Lab logo.svg
| type = Research Laboratory
| headquarters = [[University of Toronto]]
| location_city = [[Toronto]]
| location_city2 = [[Ontario]]
| leader_title = Director
| leader_name = [[Ronald Deibert]]
| website = {{url|https://citizenlab.ca}}
}}

The '''Citizen Lab''' is an interdisciplinary laboratory based at the [[Munk School of Global Affairs]] at the [[University of Toronto]], Canada. It was founded by [[Ronald Deibert]] in 2001. The laboratory studies information controls that impact the openness and security of the Internet and that pose threats to [[human rights]].<ref name="Bpr2012-10-21">{{Cite news |date=October 21, 2012 |title=BPR Interview: Citizens Lab Director Ronald Deibert |publisher=[[Brown Political Review]] |url=http://www.brownpoliticalreview.org/2012/10/interview-citizens-lab-director-ronald-deibert/ |access-date=January 9, 2016 |quote=BPR interviewed Ronald Deibert, director of Citizens Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, an interdisciplinary research organization focusing at the intersection of internet, global security and human rights. They have worked for the office of the Dalai Lama.}}</ref> The organization uses a "mixed methods" approach which combines computer-generated interrogation, [[data mining]], and analysis with intensive [[field research]], qualitative [[social science]], and legal and [[policy analysis]] methods. The organization has played a major role in providing technical support to journalists investigating the use of [[NSO Group]]'s [[Pegasus (spyware)|Pegasus spyware]] on journalists, politicians and human rights advocates.

== History ==
The Citizen Lab was a founding partner of the [[OpenNet Initiative]] (2002–2013) and the [[Information Warfare Monitor]] (2002–2012) projects. The organization also developed the original design of the [[Psiphon]] censorship circumvention software, which was spun out of the Lab into a private Canadian corporation (Psiphon Inc.) in 2008.

In a 2009 report "Tracking [[GhostNet]]", researchers uncovered a suspected [[cyber espionage]] network of over 1,295 infected hosts in 103 countries between 2007 and 2009, a high percentage of which were high-value targets, including [[ministries of foreign affairs]], embassies, international organizations, news media, and NGOs. The study was one of the first public reports to reveal a cyber espionage network that targeted [[civil society]] and government systems internationally.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |author-link=John Markoff |date=2009-03-28 |title=Vast Spy System Loots Computers in 103 Countries |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/technology/29spy.html |access-date=2021-12-28 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In ''Shadows in the Cloud'' (2010), researchers documented a complex ecosystem of cyber espionage that systematically compromised government, business, academic, and other computer network systems in [[India]], the offices of the [[Dalai Lama]], the [[United Nations]], and several other countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shadows in the Cloud: Investigating Cyber Espionage 2.0 |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/29435784/SHADOWS-IN-THE-CLOUD-Investigating-Cyber-Espionage-2-0 |access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> 

In ''Million Dollar Dissident'', published in August 2016, researchers discovered that [[Ahmed Mansoor]], one of the [[UAE Five]], a human rights defender in the United Arab Emirates, was targeted with [[Pegasus (spyware)|Pegasus]] software developed by Israeli cyber-intelligence firm [[NSO Group]]. Prior to the releases of the report, researchers contacted Apple who released a security update that patched the vulnerabilities exploited by the spyware operators.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=August 26, 2016 |title=The 'Million Dollar Dissident' Is a Magnet for Government Spyware |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ahmed-mansoor-million-dollar-dissident-government-spyware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016101042/https://www.vice.com/en/article/mg7pjy/ahmed-mansoor-million-dollar-dissident-government-spyware |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |access-date=2021-12-28 |website=[[Vice magazine]] |language=en}}</ref> Mansoor was imprisoned one year later and as of 2021, is still in jail.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=2021-07-23 |title=How NSO became the company whose software can spy on the world |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/23/how-nso-became-the-company-whose-software-can-spy-on-the-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723113004/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/23/how-nso-became-the-company-whose-software-can-spy-on-the-world |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |access-date=2021-12-28 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref>

Researchers reported in October 2018, that NSO Group surveillance software was used to spy on the "inner circle" of [[Jamal Khashoggi]] just before his murder, "are being targeted in turn by international undercover operatives." A Citizen Lab October report revealed that NSO's "[[Pegasus (spyware)|signature spy software]]" which had been placed on the iPhone of Saudi dissident Omar Abdulaziz, one of Khashoggi's confidantes, months before. Abdulaziz said that Saudi Arabia spies used the hacking software to reveal Khashoggi's "private criticisms of the Saudi royal family". He said this "played a major role" in his death.<ref name="seattletimes_Satter_20190124" /><ref>According to Raphael Satter's January 25 article, Citizen Lab "has drawn attention for its repeated exposés of NSO Group", whose "wares have been used by governments to target journalists in Mexico, opposition figures in Panama and human rights activists in the Middle East".</ref>

According to a January 24, 2019 ''[[AP News]]'' report, Citizen Lab researchers were "being targeted" by "international undercover operatives" for its work on [[NSO Group]].<ref name="seattletimes_Satter_20190124">{{Cite news |last=Satter |first=Raphael |date=January 25, 2019 |title=APNewsBreak: Undercover agents target cybersecurity watchdog |work=[[The Seattle Times]] via [[AP News]] |location=New York |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/apnewsbreak-undercover-agents-target-cybersecurity-watchdog-2/ |access-date=January 26, 2019}} Updated January 26</ref>

In January 2019, Citizen Lab invited the [[Associated Press]] to help reveal an undercover spy operation targeting reporters at Citizen Lab carried out by the firm [[Black Cube]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 11, 2019 |title=AP Exclusive: Undercover spy exposed in NYC was 1 of many |url=https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lawsuits-ap-top-news-london-spyware-9bdbbfe0c8a2407aac14a1e995659de4 |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> [[Ronan Farrow]] added to this reporting through interviews with a source of his who was involved in that espionage incident, among others.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Farrow |first=Ronan |date=2019-10-07 |title=The Black Cube Chronicles, Part I: The Private Investigators |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-espionage/the-black-cube-chronicles-the-private-investigators |access-date=2023-06-18 |issn=0028-792X}}</ref>

In March 2019, ''The New York Times'' reported that Citizen Lab had been a target of the UAE contractor [[DarkMatter (Emirati company)|DarkMatter]].<ref name="2019-03-21-nyt">{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2019 |title=A New Age of Warfare: How Internet Mercenaries Do Battle for Authoritarian Governments |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/us/politics/government-hackers-nso-darkmatter.html |access-date=March 22, 2019 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

A major international investigation conducted from 2020 to 2022 into the use of [[Pegasus (spyware)|Pegasus spyware]] on journalists, politicians and human rights activists around the world relied on Citizen Lab and [[Amnesty International]]'s Security Lab for technical support.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taddonio |first=Patrice |date=January 3, 2023 |title=Journalist Targeted With Pegasus Spyware Speaks Out |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/pegasus-spyware-scandal-khadija-ismayilova-documentary-excerpt/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=FRONTLINE |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2021, Citizen Lab along with Amnesty International's Security Lab analysed [[Front Line Defenders]]' report on the hacking of devices of six Palestinian [[Human rights defender|human rights defenders]] (two were dual nationals; one French, one American) working for civil society organisations based in the [[West Bank]]. Four of the hacked devices used Israeli [[SIM card]]s (which NSO Group claimed was not allowed).<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://citizenlab.ca/2021/11/palestinian-human-rights-defenders-hacked-nso-groups-pegasus-spyware/ |title=Devices of Palestinian Human Rights Defenders Hacked with NSO Group's Pegasus Spyware |date=2021-11-08 |publisher=University of Toronto |issue=Citizen Lab Research Report No. 146}}</ref>

In 2023, Citizen Lab found evidence of [[NSO Group]]'s hacking tool [[Pegasus (spyware)|Pegasus]] in a war setting for the first time<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=2023-05-25 |title=United Nations official and others in Armenia hacked by NSO Group spyware |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/may/25/nso-group-spyware-armenia-war |access-date=2023-06-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> as well as in the device of a lead investigator of a Mexican human rights investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sheridan |first=Mary Beth |date=2023-06-05 |title=He's leading Mexico's probe of the Dirty War. Who's spying on him? |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/03/mexico-pegasus-dirty-war-lopez-obrador/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] Pioneer award (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Release |first=Press |date=August 26, 2015 |title=EFF Announces 2015 Pioneer Award Winners: Caspar Bowden, Citizen Lab, Anriette Esterhuysen and the Association for Progressive Communications, and Kathy Sierra |url=https://www.eff.org/press/releases/eff-announces-2015-pioneer-award-winners-caspar-bowden-citizen-lab-anriette |access-date=January 25, 2019 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[MacArthur Foundation]]’s MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions (2014)<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2014 |title=Citizen Lab wins Canada's 1st $1M MacArthur award |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/citizen-lab-wins-canada-s-1st-1m-macarthur-award-1.2544711}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2014 |title=MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions: The Citizen Lab |url=http://www.macfound.org/maceirecipients/80/ |access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> 
* New Digital Age grant from [[Google]] Executive Chairman [[Eric Schmidt]] (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-11 |title=Eric Schmidt gives $1M to 10 nonprofit tech companies |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/eric-schmidt-gifts-1m-to-10-non-profit-tech-companies/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2014 |title=Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt Awards Citizen Lab "New Digital Age" Grant |url=https://citizenlab.ca/2014/03/google-executive-chairman-eric-schmidt-awards-citizen-lab-new-digital-age-grant/ |access-date=March 24, 2014 |last1=Poetranto |first1=Irene }}</ref>
* The [[Canadian Library Association]]'s Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada Award (2013)<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2013 |title=The Citizen Lab wins the 2013 CLA Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada Award |url=http://www.cla.ca/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=13924 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325044034/http://www.cla.ca/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=%2FCM%2FContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=13924 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref>
* The [[Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom]]'s Press Freedom Award (2011)<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2011 |title=Citizen Lab Wins the 2011 Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom's Press Freedom Award |url=https://citizenlab.ca/2011/05/citizen-lab-wins-2011-press-freedom-award-of-the-canadian-committee-for-world-press-freedom/ |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129132030/https://citizenlab.ca/2011/05/citizen-lab-wins-2011-press-freedom-award-of-the-canadian-committee-for-world-press-freedom/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
* The [[Canadian Journalists for Free Expression]]’s Vox Libera Award (2010)<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2010 |title=Canadian Internet Pioneer, The Citizen Lab, Wins Canadian Journalists for Free Expression Vox Libera award |url=https://citizenlab.ca/2010/11/canadian-internet-pioneer-the-citizen-lab-wins-canadian-journalists-for-free-expression-vox-libera-award/ |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129130825/https://citizenlab.ca/2010/11/canadian-internet-pioneer-the-citizen-lab-wins-canadian-journalists-for-free-expression-vox-libera-award/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://citizenlab.ca}}

[[Category:University of Toronto]]
[[Category:Laboratories in Canada]]
[[Category:Computer surveillance]]
[[Category:Internet-related organizations]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Scientific organizations established in 2001]]