Director warns of US role in rise of commercial spyware and 'techno-fascism'

Citizen Lab director Ron Deibert issued a stark warning regarding the proliferation of commercial spyware and surveillance, asserting that the US government and major technology companies are significant drivers of this trend. Deibert's remarks, delivered at the SecTor 2026 conference, highlighted concerns an authoritarian agenda and a movement he termed 'techno-fascism,' based on information published by Dark Reading.

Deibert detailed Citizen Lab's investigations into commercial spyware, citing examples like NSO Group's Pegasus used against journalists and dissidents. He criticized foreign governments for abusing such technology but reserved his sharpest critiques for the United States, pointing to an expansion of surveillance and the use of AI for disinformation, or 'slopoganda.' He expressed concern that the Trump administration might reverse progress made against spyware firms, noting the administration's perceived alignment with authoritarian leaders and the embrace of technology companies whose leaders hold anti-democratic views.

Deibert also highlighted the appointment of individuals with ties to the Trump administration to executive positions within spyware companies and the reactivation of contracts with surveillance technology providers. Furthermore, he warned the increasing use of AI for generating deepfakes and spreading disinformation, which he believes amplifies existing threats against civil society and vulnerable groups.