Deibert is the visionary director of the Citizen Lab, a pioneering research center he founded in 2001 with a singular, crucial purpose: to serve as "counterintelligence for civil society." Nestled within the hallowed halls of the University of Toronto, the lab operates with a fierce independence, deliberately insulated from the influence of governments or corporate interests. Its financial sustenance is derived from a carefully cultivated blend of research grants and private philanthropy, allowing it to pursue its mission without compromise. This autonomy is what positions the Citizen Lab as one of the few institutions globally dedicated exclusively to investigating cyberthreats in the public interest. Through its rigorous and often courageous work, the lab has, over the past two decades, brought to light some of the most egregious digital abuses and human rights violations of our time.

For many years, Deibert and his esteemed colleagues at Citizen Lab held up the United States as an aspirational beacon of liberal democracy, a standard-bearer for democratic norms and freedoms. However, Deibert observes a deeply concerning shift. "The pillars of democracy are under assault in the United States," he laments. "For many decades, in spite of its flaws, it has upheld norms about what constitutional democracy looks like or should aspire to. That is now at risk." This sobering assessment reflects a growing unease about the erosion of democratic institutions and civil liberties, even in nations historically perceived as bastions of freedom.

Even as some of his fellow Canadians, perhaps wary of the political climate, chose to avoid travel to the United States following Donald Trump’s second election, Deibert saw it as an opportune moment to engage. His visit was not solely for academic discourse; it was an active engagement with the unfolding realities of digital surveillance and protest. Alongside crucial meetings with human rights defenders, he meticulously documented active surveillance operations at Columbia University during the height of its student protests. He observed and photographed drones hovering above the campus, noting the exceptionally strict and pervasive security protocols that seemed to stifle dissent. "It was unorthodox to go to the United States," he admitted, highlighting the inherent risks involved. "But I really gravitate toward problems in the world." This statement encapsulates his unwavering commitment to confronting challenging issues head-on, wherever they may arise.

At 61 years old, Ronald Deibert’s journey to becoming a leading figure in digital rights advocacy began in East Vancouver, British Columbia. He grew up in a gritty urban environment imbued with a vibrant countercultural spirit. The 1970s Vancouver was a refuge for draft dodgers and hippies, a milieu that, while seemingly distant from his future path, planted seeds of rebellion and critical thinking. Deibert points to the profound impact of American investigative journalism during that era – particularly the revelations surrounding the COINTELPRO surveillance program, the Pentagon Papers, and the Watergate scandal – as the genesis of his deep-seated respect for antiestablishment sentiment. He never envisioned that this fascination would blossom into a full-fledged career. "My horizons were pretty low because I came from a working-class family, and there weren’t many people in my family—in fact, none—who went on to university," he confessed, reflecting on the humble beginnings that fueled his ambition.

Deibert’s intellectual curiosity eventually led him to pursue a graduate program in international relations at the University of British Columbia. It was during his doctoral research that he stumbled upon a nascent field of inquiry that was poised to explode into global significance: the intricate geopolitical implications of the burgeoning internet. "In my field, there were a handful of people beginning to talk about the internet, but it was very shallow, and that frustrated me," he explained. "And meanwhile, computer science was very technical, but not political—[politics] was almost like a dirty word." This disconnect between the technical capabilities of the internet and its profound societal and political ramifications became a central focus of his academic pursuits. He continued to delve into these complex topics upon his appointment to a tenure-track professorship at the University of Toronto. However, it was only after founding the Citizen Lab in 2001 that his work transcended academic circles and rose to global prominence, capturing the attention of policymakers, activists, and the public alike.

What truly catapulted the Citizen Lab onto the international stage, Deibert recounts, was its groundbreaking 2009 report, "Tracking GhostNet." This seminal publication meticulously uncovered a vast digital espionage network originating in China, which had successfully breached the computer systems of foreign embassies and diplomats in over 100 countries, including the sensitive offices of the Dalai Lama. The "GhostNet" report, and its crucial follow-up in 2010, were among the very first to publicly expose sophisticated cybersurveillance operations in real-time, offering irrefutable evidence of state-sponsored digital intrusion. In the years that have followed, the lab has published more than 180 similar in-depth analyses, earning widespread acclaim from human rights advocates, including prominent figures like Margaret Atwood and Edward Snowden.

The Citizen Lab has consistently and rigorously investigated the actions of authoritarian regimes across the globe. Deibert himself notes with a wry sense of acknowledgment that both Russia and China have his name on a "list" barring his entry into their territories, a testament to the impact of his research. In a particularly chilling revelation, the group was the first to uncover the use of commercial spyware to surveil individuals close to Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident and Washington Post journalist, in the period leading up to his assassination. The lab’s research has had tangible policy implications, directly informing G7 and UN resolutions on digital repression and leading to sanctions against various spyware vendors. Yet, the fight against such threats is a constant battle. In 2025, a concerning development emerged: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement reactivated a $2 million contract with the spyware vendor Paragon. This contract, which the Biden administration had previously placed under a stop-work order, mirrors similar actions taken by governments in Europe and Israel, which have also deployed domestic spyware ostensibly to address security concerns.

Cindy Cohn, the executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), eloquently articulates the vital importance of the lab’s work, stating, "It saves lives, quite literally." She further emphasizes, "The Citizen Lab [researchers] were the first to really focus on technical attacks on human rights activists and democracy activists all around the world. And they’re still the best at it." This high praise underscores the Citizen Lab’s unique position at the forefront of defending digital freedoms and exposing those who seek to undermine them.

When it comes to recruiting new members for the Citizen Lab – affectionately known as "Labbers" – Deibert eschews traditional, staid academic archetypes. Instead, he actively seeks out brilliant, colorful personalities, many of whom have personally experienced the sting of repression from the very regimes the lab now scrutinizes. This lived experience brings an unparalleled depth of understanding and a fierce dedication to their work.

Noura Aljizawi, a distinguished researcher specializing in digital repression, exemplifies this ethos. Having survived torture at the hands of the al-Assad regime in Syria, she now dedicates her expertise to researching the distinct threats that digital technologies pose to women and queer individuals, particularly when these technologies are weaponized against exiled nationals. Her contributions extend beyond research; she played a pivotal role in the creation of Security Planner, an invaluable online tool that provides personalized, expert-reviewed guidance to individuals seeking to enhance their digital security and hygiene. For this innovative initiative, the University of Toronto bestowed upon her an Excellence Through Innovation Award.

The work undertaken by the Citizen Lab is, undeniably, not without its risks. Elies Campo, a dedicated Citizen Lab fellow, experienced firsthand the chilling reality of surveillance. Following the lab’s publication of a comprehensive 2022 report that exposed the digital surveillance of dozens of Catalonian citizens and members of parliament, including four former Catalonian presidents targeted during or after their terms, Campo found herself being followed and photographed. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the personal dangers faced by those who shine a light on covert digital operations.

Despite these inherent dangers, the Citizen Lab’s stellar reputation and its compelling mission make recruitment a relatively straightforward process, Deibert observes. "This good work attracts a certain type of person," he explains. "But they’re usually also drawn to the sleuthing. It’s detective work, and that can be highly intoxicating—even addictive." This description captures the intellectual thrill and the profound sense of purpose that drives the Labbers.

Deibert consistently deflects the spotlight from himself, preferring to amplify the accomplishments of his colleagues. He rarely discusses the group’s significant achievements without acknowledging the pivotal contributions of two senior researchers, Bill Marczak and John Scott-Railton, alongside other dedicated staff members. This spirit of collegiality extends even to those who eventually depart the Citizen Lab to pursue other opportunities. "We have a saying: Once a Labber, always a Labber," Deibert states warmly, underscoring the enduring bonds of camaraderie and shared purpose within the lab.

During his sojourn in the United States, Deibert engaged actively with academic institutions, teaching a seminar on the Citizen Lab’s groundbreaking work to undergraduates at Northwestern University and delivering insightful talks on digital authoritarianism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Universities in the US had been subjected to significant funding cuts and heightened scrutiny under the Trump administration, and Deibert felt a strong imperative to be "in the mix" at such institutions. His presence was intended to offer a counterpoint to what he perceives as encroaching authoritarian practices by the US government, providing critical analysis and fostering informed discussion.

Since Deibert’s return to Canada, the Citizen Lab has resolutely continued its vital work, unearthing digital threats to civil society worldwide. However, Deibert now faces a new, complex challenge: grappling with the United States itself. This nation, once his benchmark for democracy, has, in his view, become another subject of his critical scrutiny. "I do not believe that an institution like the Citizen Lab could exist right now in the United States," he states with conviction. "The type of research that we pioneered is under threat like never before."

He expresses particular alarm at the increasing pressures being exerted on federal oversight bodies and academic institutions within the US. As an example, he points to the September action by the Trump administration to defund the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, a government organization specifically tasked with preventing waste, fraud, and abuse within federal agencies, citing partisan concerns as justification. Furthermore, the White House has issued threats to freeze federal funding to universities that fail to comply with administration directives related to gender, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and campus speech. These actions, Deibert argues, fundamentally undermine the independence of crucial watchdogs and research groups like the Citizen Lab, which rely on institutional autonomy to conduct their vital work.

Cindy Cohn, the director of the EFF, offers a perspective that highlights the strategic advantage of the Citizen Lab’s location in Canada. She notes that its base in Toronto allows it to largely avoid many of the direct attacks and pressures being experienced by similar institutions in the United States. "Having the Citizen Lab based in Toronto and able to continue to do its work largely free of the things we’re seeing in the US," she remarks, "could end up being tremendously important if we’re going to return to a place of the rule of law and protection of human rights and liberties." This sentiment underscores the global significance of the Citizen Lab’s continued operation and its role as a vital bulwark in the ongoing struggle for digital rights and democratic values.

Finian Hazen is a journalism and political science student at Northwestern University.