Special Topics in International Studies (390-0-1)

Topic

Counter Intelligence for Civil Society

Instructors

Ronald James Deibert

Meeting Info

Harris Hall L28: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

Course title: Counter Intelligence for Civil Society: A Deep Dive into the Citizen Lab

Taught by visiting professor Ron Deibert: https://internationalstudies.northwestern.edu/people/visiting-scholar/ron-deibert.html

This course is an intensive examination of the evolving terrain of global digital electronic telecommunications through the lens of the research of the Citizen Lab (https://citizenlab.ca/). For over 20 years, the Citizen Lab -- an interdisciplinary research laboratory based at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto (which the instructor founded and currently directs) -- has investigated issues at the intersection of information and communication technologies, human rights, and global security. We use a "mixed methods" approach to research combining practices from political science, law, computer science, engineering, and area studies. We see ourselves as a kind of "early warning system," looking over the horizon, or peering beneath the covers of the technological systems that surround us, to expose abuses of power, violations of human rights, or other threats to privacy and security. The Citizen Lab is a pioneer in a new and growing field of "digital accountability" research.

After setting the stage with some general readings on background and context, we turn to several modules organized as detailed examinations of the Citizen Lab's mixed methods research on information controls, including analyzing Internet and social media censorship and surveillance, investigating targeted digital espionage, and analyzing the harms and consequences of growing digital transnational repression. We conclude with an exploration of threat modeling and how each of you can improve your own digital hygiene.