The Citizen Lab team, based at the university’s Munk School of Global Affairs, has received the 13th annual award for its ongoing work to track and expose Internet censorship and surveillance around the world.
“The Internet has changed forever the way we impart and receive information, and it is critical that we keep it free,” said Rafal Rohozinski, Senior Research Advisor for the Citizen Lab. “We are greatly honoured by this award.”
Rohozinski and Citizen Lab Director Ron Deibert helped spearhead a recent IDRC-funded research project, OpenNet.Asia, in which researchers across South and Southeast Asia explored aspects of digital censorship and surveillance in their own countries.
“Coming on World Press Freedom Day (May 3), the award lends support to the mission of the Citizen Lab, which is to engage in advanced research and development around global security, human rights, and cyberspace,” Deibert said.
“We dedicate this award to our partners and colleagues around the world, including OpenNet.Eurasia and OpenNet.Asia, both of whom have been instrumental throughout the years in our endeavours."
The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom has given this award annually since 1998 to honour a Canadian person or group that has advanced the cause of freedom of expression.
Last year, the Citizen Lab won the Vox Libera Award presented by the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.
