Table of Contents

1. Latest Publication
2. News and Announcements
3. Upcoming Opportunities

1. Latest Publication

• Shining a Light on the Encryption Debate: A Canadian Field Guide

  Access to strong encryption technology is integral to the defense of human rights in the twenty-first century. This technology is also essential for securing digital transactions, ensuring public safety, and protecting national security interests. Yet many state agencies have continued to argue that encryption poses an unacceptable barrier to their investigative and intelligence-gathering activities. To address these issues, the Citizen Lab and CIPPIC have released an encryption field guide which provides critical insight and analysis for policymakers, legal professionals, academics, journalists, and advocates who are trying to navigate the complex implications of these technologies.

2. News and Announcements

• UN Special Rapporteur Incorporates Citizen Lab Recommendations on Technology-Facilitated Violence, Abuse, and Harassment

  UN Special Rapporteur Dubravka Šimonović recently submitted a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council on online violence against women and girls from a human rights perspective. It incorporates several Citizen Lab recommendations, including the importance of encryption, intersectionality, and rights to privacy.

• Citizen Lab Pens Letter to Canada's National Energy Board

  The Citizen Lab raised human rights concerns to Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) regarding its “Security Threat Monitoring Services” Request for Information (RFI) in a recent letter. The NEB appears to be seeking technological tools and services with “[r]eal-time capability to algorithmically process vast amounts of traditional media, open source and public social media data in both English and French.” The tools and services as the RFI describes raises a number of significant human rights issues and implicates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• NSO Group Employee Allegedly Stole Company’s Powerful Spyware for Personal Profit

  Following reports that an employee of the cyber warfare company NSO Group attempted to steal and sell its software, Ron Deibert speaks to inherent insecurities of the industry. "The commercial spyware industry as a whole is new, lucrative and powerful, but also immature, largely unregulated, lacking in professional conduct, and prone to abuse. Theft and illicit sale of powerful surveillance technologies will happen in such circumstances, and provides yet another example of the need for greater regulatory control over the industry."

• Improve your online safety with Security Planner

  Average Internet users face an increasing array of digital threats, which means staying on top of online safety is more important than ever. This is why we've created Security Planner: an easy-to-use guide with expert-reviewed advice for staying safer online.

3. Upcoming Opportunities

• Project Coordinator: Gender and Digital Security

  The Citizen Lab is hiring a project coordinator to facilitate a critical scoping study of gender and digital security. The position is contract work for 6 months and will include, among other tasks: conducting a critical scoping study of the state of research and advocacy surrounding gender and digital security; facilitating workshops and collaborative activities with Citizen Lab staff and partners; and creating and maintaining documentation to monitor the project's progress.