November 16, 2010

The Citizen Lab program wins Vox Libera award

Recognized by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

The Citizen Lab, a research program housed at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs that ferrets out cyber attacks and espionage, will be awarded the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) 2010 Vox Libera Award. The Citizen Lab was selected for its dedication to free expression and access to information online. World leaders in the field of "hacktivism," the Citizen Lab's members focus their research on documenting cases of internet espionage and censorship around the world, reinforcing the idea that the Internet should remain a safe, public domain.

Victor Malarek, investigative reporter on CTV's W5, and Anne-Marie Mediwake, news anchor and co-host of CBC News, will emcee the evening that honours the Citizen Lab and journalists from   Cameroon  and   Mexico  at the 13th annual CJFE Gala: A Night to Honour Fearless Reporting at the Fairmont   Royal York  Hotel in   Toronto  on   Thursday, November 25, 2010.

"Freedom of expression on the Internet is very much under threat today," said   Ron Deibert, Founder/Director of the Citizen Lab and Professor of Political Science. "Citizen Lab is very proud to have been selected for this year's CJFE Vox Libera Award. We hope that our work and that of our partners will help raise awareness of these threats and safeguard the Internet as an open commons."

The Vox Libera Award is an annual award granted to a Canadian or Canadian organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the principles of free expression and has made an important and sustained contribution at home or abroad to those same principles.

"The Citizen Lab's fight for open communication and free expression is making a significant difference for those living in repressed regions of the world," says   Carol Off, Chair of the Gala Steering Committee. "Their work enables people to share crucial information and exposes those who would try to do them harm."

The CJFE Gala brings together approximately 500 members of Canada's media, business and professional communities in support of journalists who are putting their lives on the line to defend freedom of expression. CJFE recognizes its annual award winners as well as journalists worldwide for their extraordinary courage and for overcoming tremendous odds to report on controversial stories despite dangerous circumstances.