The director of Citizen Lab, a leading organization investigating government spyware abuses, is urging the cybersecurity community to join the fight against authoritarianism.
Ron Deibert is set to deliver a keynote at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas, a major event for information security professionals.
Deibert plans to discuss the “fusion of tech and fascism” and the role of big tech platforms in creating insecurity, which he feels is not typically seen as a cybersecurity issue.
He called recent political events in the U.S. a “dramatic descent into authoritarianism,” and believes the cybersecurity community can help defend against it.
“I think alarm bells need to be rung for this community,” Deibert told TechCrunch.
Historically, the U.S. cybersecurity industry has avoided politics, but recently politics has intertwined with cybersecurity.
Earlier, President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into former CISA director Chris Krebs for his rejection of Trump’s election fraud claims, leading to Krebs’ dismissal.
Jen Easterly, Krebs’ successor, urged the cybersecurity community to get involved and speak out against political interference.
Easterly herself faced political pressure when her offer to join West Point was rescinded by the Trump administration.
Deibert, who recently published “Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, And The Global Fight For Democracy,” echoes Easterly’s message.
Deibert expressed concern that tech companies like Meta, Google, and Apple might reduce their threat intelligence teams, weakening efforts against government spyware.
These teams track government-associated hackers, such as those from China or Russia and companies like NSO Group.
They’ve detected hacks, like when WhatsApp uncovered NSO Group hacking over 1,400 users, or when Apple informs users targeted by government spyware.
Deibert worries these teams might face cuts like other moderation and safety teams have, despite their important work.
He praised the innovative efforts of threat intelligence teams at Meta but questioned their longevity.