Citizen Lab

Citizen Lab is an interdisciplinary research laboratory based at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. It investigates digital surveillance, security, and their impact on human rights. Citizen Lab is newsworthy due to its recent findings regarding the use of surveillance technologies by governments. Specifically, a recent report by Citizen Lab found evidence that Jordanian authorities are using forensic extraction tools made by Cellebrite to surveil pro-Gaza activists. This follows previous reports where Citizen Lab's research on Pegasus spyware, developed by the NSO Group, played a crucial role in a London court case where a Saudi dissident was awarded damages after his phone was hacked. These events highlight Citizen Lab's ongoing relevance in uncovering and documenting the use of sophisticated digital tools for surveillance and repression, contributing to public awareness and legal accountability.