07/09/25, 01:22 Citizen Lab - Wikipedia
Citizen Lab
The Citizen Lab is an interdisciplinary laboratory
Citizen Lab
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.[1] 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 spyware or malware[2] on journalists, politicians
and human rights advocates.
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
History Formation 2001
Type Research Laboratory
The Citizen Lab was a founding partner of the
OpenNet Initiative (2002–2013) and the Headquarters University of Toronto
Information Warfare Monitor (2002–2012) projects. Location Toronto
The organization also developed the original design Ontario
of the Psiphon censorship circumvention software,
Director Ronald Deibert
which was spun out of the Lab into a private
Canadian corporation (Psiphon Inc.) in 2003 Website [Link] ([Link]
[Link])
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.[3]
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.[4][5]
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 developed by Israeli cyber espionage firm NSO Group. Prior to the releases
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of the report, researchers contacted Apple who released a security update that patched the
vulnerabilities exploited by the spyware operators.[6] Mansoor was imprisoned one year later and
as of 2021, is still in jail.[7]
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 "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.[8][9]
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.[8]
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.[10] Ronan Farrow
added to this reporting through interviews with a source of his who was involved in that espionage
incident, among others.[11]
In March 2019, The New York Times reported that Citizen Lab had been a target of the UAE
contractor DarkMatter.[12]
A major international investigation conducted from 2020 to 2022 into the use of 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.[13]
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 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 cards (which NSO Group claimed was not
allowed).[14]
In 2023, Citizen Lab found evidence of NSO Group's hacking tool Pegasus in a war setting for the
first time[15] as well as in the device of a lead investigator of a Mexican human rights
investigation.[16]
In 2025, Citizen Lab found evidence of three prominent European investigative journalists being
targeted with military-grade spyware on their devices.[17][18] After the report by Citizen Lab, the
Italian government and the spyware vendor, Paragon, said that they had terminated their
relationship.[19]
Awards
The MacArthur Foundation’s MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions
(2014)[2][20]
New Digital Age grant from Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (2014)[21]
The Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s Vox Libera Award (2010)[22][23]
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References
1. "BPR Interview: Citizens Lab Director Ronald Deibert" ([Link]
2/10/interview-citizens-lab-director-ronald-deibert/). Brown Political Review. October 21, 2012.
Retrieved January 9, 2016. "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."
2. "Citizen Lab wins Canada's 1st $1M MacArthur award" ([Link]
n-lab-wins-canada-s-1st-1m-macarthur-award-1.2544711). CBC News. February 20, 2014.
3. Markoff, John (March 28, 2009). "Vast Spy System Loots Computers in 103 Countries" (https://
[Link]/2009/03/29/technology/[Link]). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331
([Link] Retrieved December 28, 2021.
4. "Shadows in the Cloud: Investigating Cyber Espionage 2.0" ([Link]
784/SHADOWS-IN-THE-CLOUD-Investigating-Cyber-Espionage-2-0). Retrieved March 24,
2014.
5. "Researchers Trace Data Theft to Intruders in China (Published 2010)" ([Link]
m/2010/04/06/science/[Link]). New York Times. April 6, 2010. Retrieved August 27,
2025.
6. Franceschi-Bicchierai, Lorenzo (August 26, 2016). "The 'Million Dollar Dissident' Is a Magnet
for Government Spyware" ([Link]
dent-government-spyware/). Vice magazine. Archived ([Link]
01042/[Link]
ment-spyware) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
7. Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (July 23, 2021). "How NSO became the company whose software
can spy on the world" ([Link]
mpany-whose-software-can-spy-on-the-world). The Guardian. Archived ([Link]
g/web/20210723113004/[Link]
ompany-whose-software-can-spy-on-the-world) from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved
December 28, 2021.
8. Satter, Raphael (January 25, 2019). "APNewsBreak: Undercover agents target cybersecurity
watchdog" ([Link]
ersecurity-watchdog-2/). The Seattle Times via AP News. New York. Retrieved January 26,
2019. Updated January 26
9. 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".
10. "AP Exclusive: Undercover spy exposed in NYC was 1 of many" ([Link]
rth-america-lawsuits-ap-top-news-london-spyware-9bdbbfe0c8a2407aac14a1e995659de4).
AP NEWS. February 11, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
11. Farrow, Ronan (October 7, 2019). "The Black Cube Chronicles, Part I: The Private
Investigators" ([Link]
s-the-private-investigators). The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X ([Link]
n/0028-792X). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
12. "A New Age of Warfare: How Internet Mercenaries Do Battle for Authoritarian Governments" (ht
tps://[Link]/2019/03/21/us/politics/[Link]). The
New York Times. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
13. Taddonio, Patrice (January 3, 2023). "Journalist Targeted With Pegasus Spyware Speaks Out"
([Link]
mentary-excerpt/). FRONTLINE. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
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14. Devices of Palestinian Human Rights Defenders Hacked with NSO Group's Pegasus Spyware
([Link]
spyware/) (Report). University of Toronto. November 8, 2021.
15. Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (May 25, 2023). "United Nations official and others in Armenia
hacked by NSO Group spyware" ([Link]
roup-spyware-armenia-war). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 ([Link]
0261-3077). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
16. Sheridan, Mary Beth (June 5, 2023). "He's leading Mexico's probe of the Dirty War. Who's
spying on him?" ([Link]
-lopez-obrador/). Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286 ([Link]
6). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
17. Satter, Raphael; Satter, Raphael (June 12, 2025). "Second Italian journalist targeted with
Paragon spyware, watchdog group says" ([Link]
cond-italian-journalist-targeted-with-paragon-spyware-watchdog-group-says-2025-06-12/).
Reuters. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
18. Kirchgaessner, Stephanie; Giuffrida, Angela (June 12, 2025). "European journalists targeted
with Paragon Solutions spyware, say researchers" ([Link]
un/12/european-journalists-targeted-with-paragon-solutions-spyware-say-researchers). The
Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 ([Link] Retrieved August 24,
2025.
19. Kinetz, Erika; Santalucia, Paolo (June 12, 2025). "U.S.-backed Israeli company's spyware used
to target European journalists, Citizen Lab finds" ([Link]
025-06-12/us-backed-israeli-companys-spyware-used-to-target-european-journalists-citizen-la
b-finds). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
20. "MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions: The Citizen Lab" ([Link]
[Link]/maceirecipients/80/). MacArthur Foundation. February 19, 2014. Retrieved March 24,
2014.
21. "Eric Schmidt gives $1M to 10 nonprofit tech companies" ([Link]
c-schmidt-gifts-1m-to-10-non-profit-tech-companies/). VentureBeat. March 11, 2014. Retrieved
June 18, 2023.
22. "Canadian Internet Pioneer, The Citizen Lab, Wins Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Vox Libera award" ([Link]
canadian-internet-pioneer-the-citizen-lab-wins-canadian-journalists-for-free-expression-vox-libe
ra-award/). November 15, 2010. Archived from the original ([Link]
an-internet-pioneer-the-citizen-lab-wins-canadian-journalists-for-free-expression-vox-libera-aw
ard/) on November 29, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
23. "Toronto's Citizen Lab wins press freedom award" ([Link]
nto-s-citizen-lab-wins-press-freedom-award-1.949122). CBC. November 15, 2010.
External links
Official website ([Link]
Retrieved from "[Link]
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