Meet the man hunting the spies in your smartphone

Ronald Deibert, founder of the Citizen Lab, has dedicated two decades to uncovering digital threats and surveillance. His work has exposed cyberthreats and digital abuses globally, including espionage networks and surveillance tactics. Despite facing risks and surveillance himself, Deibert continues to lead the lab in investigating authoritarian regimes and digital repression. The lab's research has influenced policies and sanctions on spyware vendors, earning praise for its impact on human rights advocacy. Deibert expresses concerns about the erosion of democracy and academic freedom in the US, emphasizing the importance of the lab's independent location in Canada for its continued work.