Understood: Who Broke the Internet? Introducing: Click Here | Citizen Lab is still chasing shadows
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Jul 15, 2025 
Ron Deibert, the founder of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, dives into the complex relationship between technology and privacy. He reflects on the early optimism of the internet and the stranger turns it has taken towards surveillance. Deibert shares harrowing stories of digital investigative journalism, showcasing the risks his team faced while revealing cyber espionage. The discussion also highlights the alarming threats posed by spyware like Pegasus, underscoring Citizen Lab's vital mission to protect citizens in a digital age of shadows.
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Ron Deibert's Humble Beginnings
- Ron Deibert grew up in a tough part of Vancouver surrounded by crime and incarceration.
- As a kid, he broke into churches to snack on communion wafers and had little focus on school.
Skepticism of Internet Utopia
- Early internet hype centered on freedom, democracy, and unstoppable information flow.
- Ron was skeptical, suspecting governments would use internet tech for surveillance too.
Tech to Watch Governments Back
- Deibert realized citizens could use technology to watch governments and hold them accountable.
- This insight inspired him to create the Citizen Lab as a watchdog for digital surveillance.
