Reposted by Adam
Great to see @nateschenkkan.bsky.social presenting our report “Perpetrators & methods of transnational repression and possible counter strategies” (co-authored w/ @emiledirks.bsky.social @zecsaky.bsky.social & me) in the @afet.europarl.europa.eu
Full report: www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en...
Full report: www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en...
January 28, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Great to see @nateschenkkan.bsky.social presenting our report “Perpetrators & methods of transnational repression and possible counter strategies” (co-authored w/ @emiledirks.bsky.social @zecsaky.bsky.social & me) in the @afet.europarl.europa.eu
Full report: www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en...
Full report: www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en...
Reposted by Adam
NEW REPORT ➡️ “From Protest to Peril: Cellebrite Used Against Jordanian Civil Society”
Our investigation reveals that, since 2020, Jordanian authorities have deployed Cellebrite’s forensic extraction products against civil society targets in Jordan.
Full report here: citizenlab.ca/research/fro...
Our investigation reveals that, since 2020, Jordanian authorities have deployed Cellebrite’s forensic extraction products against civil society targets in Jordan.
Full report here: citizenlab.ca/research/fro...
From Protest to Peril: Cellebrite Used Against Jordanian Civil Society - The Citizen Lab
Through a multi-year investigation, we find that the Jordanian security apparatus has deployed forensic extraction products manufactured by Cellebrite against civil society devices. We release these f...
citizenlab.ca
January 22, 2026 at 1:51 PM
NEW REPORT ➡️ “From Protest to Peril: Cellebrite Used Against Jordanian Civil Society”
Our investigation reveals that, since 2020, Jordanian authorities have deployed Cellebrite’s forensic extraction products against civil society targets in Jordan.
Full report here: citizenlab.ca/research/fro...
Our investigation reveals that, since 2020, Jordanian authorities have deployed Cellebrite’s forensic extraction products against civil society targets in Jordan.
Full report here: citizenlab.ca/research/fro...
Reposted by Adam
The People's Consultation on AI launched today! Whether you have in-depth expertise in AI issues, or don't consider yourself an "expert" but have firsthand experience with AI or its impacts and want to have your say, this is for you. Participate by March 15, 2026: www.peoplesaiconsultation.ca
January 22, 2026 at 12:38 AM
The People's Consultation on AI launched today! Whether you have in-depth expertise in AI issues, or don't consider yourself an "expert" but have firsthand experience with AI or its impacts and want to have your say, this is for you. Participate by March 15, 2026: www.peoplesaiconsultation.ca
Reposted by Adam
I wrote about Iran's protests for @theatlantic.com: how AI manipulation and the suspicion of it is being weaponised to dismiss real footage of protests.
This piece draws on work from my stellar team at WITNESS and years of studying information controls in Iran and beyond.
This piece draws on work from my stellar team at WITNESS and years of studying information controls in Iran and beyond.
Doubt has become a weapon in Iran as AI manipulation—and the very suspicion of it—serves those who have the most to hide, Mahsa Alimardani argues:
How Doubt Became a Weapon in Iran
AI manipulation, and the very suspicion of it, serves those who have the most to hide.
bit.ly
January 14, 2026 at 5:47 PM
I wrote about Iran's protests for @theatlantic.com: how AI manipulation and the suspicion of it is being weaponised to dismiss real footage of protests.
This piece draws on work from my stellar team at WITNESS and years of studying information controls in Iran and beyond.
This piece draws on work from my stellar team at WITNESS and years of studying information controls in Iran and beyond.
Reposted by Adam
1/ Yesterday’s Q2-Q3 Adversarial Threat Report by Meta was interesting in many ways. For us @citizenlab.ca, it was a blast from the past.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
Burned After Reading: Endless Mayfly’s Ephemeral Disinformation Campaign - The Citizen Lab
Using Endless Mayfly as an illustration, this highlights the challenges of investigating & addressing disinformation from research & policy perspectives.
citizenlab.ca
December 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
1/ Yesterday’s Q2-Q3 Adversarial Threat Report by Meta was interesting in many ways. For us @citizenlab.ca, it was a blast from the past.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
For the first time, Meta’s investigators attributed what in 2019 we had named Endless Mayfly - a relentless, sophisticated influence op targeting Iran’s enemies.
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Atul Gawande. hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-s...
USAID shutdown has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, accord...
hsph.harvard.edu
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Atul Gawande. hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-s...
Reposted by Adam
Researchers tried plugging every possible phone number into WhatsApp's web app. They found they could collect 3.5 billion users' phone numbers, plus photos for half and profile text for more than a third, the biggest personal data exposure ever by some measures. www.wired.com/story/a-simp...
A Simple WhatsApp Security Flaw Exposed 3.5 Billion Phone Numbers
By plugging tens of billions of phone numbers into WhatsApp’s contact discovery tool, researchers found “the most extensive exposure of phone numbers” ever—along with profile photos and more.
www.wired.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Researchers tried plugging every possible phone number into WhatsApp's web app. They found they could collect 3.5 billion users' phone numbers, plus photos for half and profile text for more than a third, the biggest personal data exposure ever by some measures. www.wired.com/story/a-simp...
Reposted by Adam
Law enforcement: we need to break encryption to get access to Signal to protect the children!!
Also law enforcement: for years couldn’t catch a pedophile sex trafficker who used email to coordinate all of his pedophile sex trafficking
Also law enforcement: for years couldn’t catch a pedophile sex trafficker who used email to coordinate all of his pedophile sex trafficking
November 14, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Law enforcement: we need to break encryption to get access to Signal to protect the children!!
Also law enforcement: for years couldn’t catch a pedophile sex trafficker who used email to coordinate all of his pedophile sex trafficking
Also law enforcement: for years couldn’t catch a pedophile sex trafficker who used email to coordinate all of his pedophile sex trafficking
Reposted by Adam
EFF teamed up with AV Comparatives to see how well anti-virus apps detect stalkerware on Android phones.
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
EFF teamed up with AV Comparatives to see how well anti-virus apps detect stalkerware on Android phones.
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
Reposted by Adam
Watch my BSidesPDX keynote where I spoke honestly and frankly about the terrifying reality that Americans are facing under Trump's fascist regime, alongside practical advise for communities to defend themselves micahflee.com/practical-de...
Practical Defenses Against Technofascism
I gave the Saturday morning keynote at BSidesPDX! I spoke honestly and frankly about the terrifying reality that Americans are facing under Trump's fascist regime, alongside practical advise for commu...
micahflee.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Watch my BSidesPDX keynote where I spoke honestly and frankly about the terrifying reality that Americans are facing under Trump's fascist regime, alongside practical advise for communities to defend themselves micahflee.com/practical-de...
Reposted by Adam
NEW REPORT: We uncovered a coordinated network of fake X profiles that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in #Iran. We call this network “PRISONBREAK”.
Read the report 👉 citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
Read the report 👉 citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
We Say You Want a Revolution: PRISONBREAK - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime - The Citizen Lab
We investigate a coordinated network of inauthentic X accounts that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in Iran. The network has been active since 2023, but increased activity during th...
citizenlab.ca
October 3, 2025 at 4:40 PM
NEW REPORT: We uncovered a coordinated network of fake X profiles that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in #Iran. We call this network “PRISONBREAK”.
Read the report 👉 citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
Read the report 👉 citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-e...
Reposted by Adam
The group leveraged dozens of social media accounts and “routinely used” AI-generated imagery and video to stoke unrest among Iran’s population, according to Citizen Lab. via @derekbjohnson.bsky.social cyberscoop.com/citizen-lab-...
Researchers say Israeli government likely behind AI-generated disinfo campaign in Iran
The group leveraged dozens of social media accounts and “routinely used” AI-generated imagery and video to stoke unrest among Iran’s population, according to Citizen Lab.
cyberscoop.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The group leveraged dozens of social media accounts and “routinely used” AI-generated imagery and video to stoke unrest among Iran’s population, according to Citizen Lab. via @derekbjohnson.bsky.social cyberscoop.com/citizen-lab-...
Reposted by Adam
1/ NEW REPORT: “We Say You Want a Revolution” - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime. We call it PRISONBREAK. Keep reading to find out why.
THREAD 🧵
THREAD 🧵
We Say You Want a Revolution: PRISONBREAK - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime - The Citizen Lab
We investigate a coordinated network of inauthentic X accounts that is spreading AI-generated content to induce revolt in Iran. The network has been active since 2023, but increased activity during th...
https://citizenlab.ca/2025/10/ai-enabled-io-aimed-at-overthrowing-iranian-regime]
October 3, 2025 at 3:32 AM
1/ NEW REPORT: “We Say You Want a Revolution” - An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime. We call it PRISONBREAK. Keep reading to find out why.
THREAD 🧵
THREAD 🧵
Reposted by Adam
1/Citizen Lab’s new report on PRISONBREAK is a must-read. It exposes an AI-enabled influence operation targeting Iran with deceptive media, from the infamous Evin Prison gates video to deepfake music.
October 3, 2025 at 9:03 AM
1/Citizen Lab’s new report on PRISONBREAK is a must-read. It exposes an AI-enabled influence operation targeting Iran with deceptive media, from the infamous Evin Prison gates video to deepfake music.
Reposted by Adam
New today: my essay in @jodemocracy.bsky.social on The Golden Age of Transnational Repression: www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/the...
The Golden Age of Transnational Repression | Journal of Democracy
Authoritarian regimes are targeting exiles and diaspora communities in more places than ever before. Activists, journalists, and regular people living abroad must watch their backs…
www.journalofdemocracy.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
New today: my essay in @jodemocracy.bsky.social on The Golden Age of Transnational Repression: www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/the...
Reposted by Adam
A few (early) thoughts on digital transnational repression and extraterritorial human rights obligations over at @bindinghook.bsky.social. Thanks for the opportunity to share my research (again!).
Digital transnational repression and the limits of international human rights law in a ‘post-territorial’ world
Traditional models of jurisdiction fail dissidents in an ever more connected world
bindinghook.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A few (early) thoughts on digital transnational repression and extraterritorial human rights obligations over at @bindinghook.bsky.social. Thanks for the opportunity to share my research (again!).
Reposted by Adam
To state the obvious, I was not paid by the Ford Foundation or Open Society to write the column, which is what Vance is alleging and he's saying he is going after those groups. Not the first time he's spouted conspiracy theories involving the Soroses to deflect criticism: apnews.com/article/jd-v...
September 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
To state the obvious, I was not paid by the Ford Foundation or Open Society to write the column, which is what Vance is alleging and he's saying he is going after those groups. Not the first time he's spouted conspiracy theories involving the Soroses to deflect criticism: apnews.com/article/jd-v...
Reposted by Adam
Forensic researchers @citizenlab.ca today confirmed FlexiSPY spyware was found on 2 Kenyan filmmakers' phones. Victims helped produce a documentary about youth uprisings in the increasingly autocratic country. Spyware was installed while phones were in police custody. therecord.media/researchers-...
Researchers find spyware on phones belonging to Kenyan filmmakers
FlexiSPY, which is commercially available, can be more easily detected than far more expensive mercenary spyware available to nation states but has similar capabilities once installed, said John Scott...
therecord.media
September 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Forensic researchers @citizenlab.ca today confirmed FlexiSPY spyware was found on 2 Kenyan filmmakers' phones. Victims helped produce a documentary about youth uprisings in the increasingly autocratic country. Spyware was installed while phones were in police custody. therecord.media/researchers-...
Reposted by Adam
NEW: Spyware installed on Kenyan filmmakers' phones in police custody @citizenlab.ca confirms cpj.org?p=516177
Spyware installed on Kenyan filmmakers' phones in police custody - Committee to Protect Journalists
New York, September 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely alarmed by the installation of spyware on two Kenyan filmmakers’ phones while the devices were in police custody, and calls...
cpj.org
September 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
NEW: Spyware installed on Kenyan filmmakers' phones in police custody @citizenlab.ca confirms cpj.org?p=516177
Reposted by Adam
⚖️ 🔍 My new op-ed for @justsecurity.org + @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social about the opportunities & dangers of discovery in U.S. spyware litigation
Civil litigation discovery is a double-edged sword: it facilitates fact-finding but can also expose sensitive data, threaten security, and undermine privacy.
This op-ed by @natynettle.bsky.social discusses important lessons for advocacy experts 🔽 www.justsecurity.org/118409/disco...
This op-ed by @natynettle.bsky.social discusses important lessons for advocacy experts 🔽 www.justsecurity.org/118409/disco...
Discovery in U.S. Spyware Litigation: A Double-Edged Sword?
Despite its inherent risks, civil society and policymakers can learn how to benefit from the discovery process in spyware cases.
www.justsecurity.org
August 19, 2025 at 5:47 PM
⚖️ 🔍 My new op-ed for @justsecurity.org + @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social about the opportunities & dangers of discovery in U.S. spyware litigation
They are also currently clean on opsec
BREAKING: ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time
🔗 www.404media.co/ice-adds-ran...
🔗 www.404media.co/ice-adds-ran...
ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time
The texts were sent to a group called “Mass Text” and show ICE using DMV and license plate reader data in an attempt to find their target, copies of the messages obtained by 404 Media show.
www.404media.co
August 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
They are also currently clean on opsec
Reposted by Adam
Check out my #DEFCON33 talk about the Signalgate, full of unbelievable incompetence from the highest levels of the Trump administration www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFYy...
"We are currently clean on OPSEC": The Signalgate Saga (DEFCON 33)
YouTube video by Micah Lee
www.youtube.com
August 11, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Check out my #DEFCON33 talk about the Signalgate, full of unbelievable incompetence from the highest levels of the Trump administration www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFYy...
Reposted by Adam
NEW: I spoke to @rondeibert.bsky.social ahead of his keynote at Black Hat today.
Ron travelled to Vegas to warn the cybersec industry that perhaps it’s time to get political.
“They should be aware of what’s going on and hopefully they can not contribute to it, if not help reverse it,” he said.
Ron travelled to Vegas to warn the cybersec industry that perhaps it’s time to get political.
“They should be aware of what’s going on and hopefully they can not contribute to it, if not help reverse it,” he said.
Citizen Lab director warns cyber industry about US authoritarian descent | TechCrunch
Ron Deibert, the head of the prominent digital human rights groups Citizen Lab, sounds the alarm at the Black Hat security conference about the "dramatic descent into authoritarianism," but one that t...
techcrunch.com
August 6, 2025 at 3:17 PM
NEW: I spoke to @rondeibert.bsky.social ahead of his keynote at Black Hat today.
Ron travelled to Vegas to warn the cybersec industry that perhaps it’s time to get political.
“They should be aware of what’s going on and hopefully they can not contribute to it, if not help reverse it,” he said.
Ron travelled to Vegas to warn the cybersec industry that perhaps it’s time to get political.
“They should be aware of what’s going on and hopefully they can not contribute to it, if not help reverse it,” he said.
Reposted by Adam
Canada 🇨🇦 makes many pledges re: regulating spyware, protecting victims of transnational repression, and protecting human rights.
But words must be followed by actions.
My latest @theglobeandmail.com on the G7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/3d51c5f...
But words must be followed by actions.
My latest @theglobeandmail.com on the G7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/3d51c5f...
The G7 condemned transnational repression, but will Canada meet its own commitments?
A statement against this practice was a welcome sight, but will mean very little without concrete action
www.theglobeandmail.com
July 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Canada 🇨🇦 makes many pledges re: regulating spyware, protecting victims of transnational repression, and protecting human rights.
But words must be followed by actions.
My latest @theglobeandmail.com on the G7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/3d51c5f...
But words must be followed by actions.
My latest @theglobeandmail.com on the G7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/3d51c5f...