Siena Anstis
@sanstis.bsky.social
lawyer | senior legal advisor @ The Citizen Lab | PhD Fellow in Law @ University of Oslo | parent | currently: transnational repression, digital surveillance & international human rights law | EU-based (Geneva, Oslo) | https://sienaanstis.com
Pinned
Siena Anstis
@sanstis.bsky.social
· Jan 4
Civil society and access to justice: challenges of seeking remedy in the global fight against spyware
States use mercenary spyware technology, such as NSO Group’s Pegasus, Paragon’s Graphite, and Cytrox’s Predator, to remotely and clandestinely infect the smartphones of members of civil society and...
www.tandfonline.com
New article out with Jillian Sprenger in the International Journal of Human Rights on civil society's efforts to seek a remedy in the context of states' abuse of mercenary spyware: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.....
Important development in the Al-Masarir case in the UK: www.reuters.com/world/uk/sau...
Saudi dissident awarded $4.1 million by UK court for hacking, assault 'by Saudi Arabia'
A Saudi human rights activist who accuses Saudi Arabia of targeting him with spyware and directing his assault on the streets of London was awarded just over 3 million pounds ($4.1 million) in damages...
www.reuters.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Important development in the Al-Masarir case in the UK: www.reuters.com/world/uk/sau...
Are you a recent law graduate with an interest in law, tech, human rights, doing good...and not spending time counting those billable hours? The Citizen Lab is hiring a (law-related) research officer. 🤩
Job Opportunity: Citizen Lab Research Officer in the Area of Spyware and Digital Targeted Threats - The Citizen Lab
About us:
citizenlab.ca
January 8, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Are you a recent law graduate with an interest in law, tech, human rights, doing good...and not spending time counting those billable hours? The Citizen Lab is hiring a (law-related) research officer. 🤩
New article out with Jillian Sprenger in the International Journal of Human Rights on civil society's efforts to seek a remedy in the context of states' abuse of mercenary spyware: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.....
Civil society and access to justice: challenges of seeking remedy in the global fight against spyware
States use mercenary spyware technology, such as NSO Group’s Pegasus, Paragon’s Graphite, and Cytrox’s Predator, to remotely and clandestinely infect the smartphones of members of civil society and...
www.tandfonline.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:03 PM
New article out with Jillian Sprenger in the International Journal of Human Rights on civil society's efforts to seek a remedy in the context of states' abuse of mercenary spyware: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.....
Reposted by Siena Anstis
Inside the Deportation Machine www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Complex Deportation Network Behind Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
An analysis of data on every ICE arrest, detention stay and deportation reveals the complexity and reach of President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Inside the Deportation Machine www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Siena Anstis
It is good to see enforcement of the EU Digital Services Act against X. We need more principled democratic governance of tech platforms, and penalties for non-compliance 1)
Elon Musk’s X Hit With $140 Million Fine in Europe www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
Elon Musk’s X Hit With $140 Million Fine in Europe www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
Elon Musk’s X Hit With $140 Million Fine in Europe
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:24 PM
It is good to see enforcement of the EU Digital Services Act against X. We need more principled democratic governance of tech platforms, and penalties for non-compliance 1)
Elon Musk’s X Hit With $140 Million Fine in Europe www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
Elon Musk’s X Hit With $140 Million Fine in Europe www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
Reposted by Siena Anstis
Join us on Nov 26 to explore how gender, technology, and authoritarianism intersect to shape women’s participation in peace and security.
Get info & register: citizenlab.ca/2025/11/webi...
@amnesty.org @sheassociates.bsky.social @mmichae1sen.bsky.social @noura.bsky.social @sanstis.bsky.social
Get info & register: citizenlab.ca/2025/11/webi...
@amnesty.org @sheassociates.bsky.social @mmichae1sen.bsky.social @noura.bsky.social @sanstis.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Join us on Nov 26 to explore how gender, technology, and authoritarianism intersect to shape women’s participation in peace and security.
Get info & register: citizenlab.ca/2025/11/webi...
@amnesty.org @sheassociates.bsky.social @mmichae1sen.bsky.social @noura.bsky.social @sanstis.bsky.social
Get info & register: citizenlab.ca/2025/11/webi...
@amnesty.org @sheassociates.bsky.social @mmichae1sen.bsky.social @noura.bsky.social @sanstis.bsky.social
Yesterday, MEPs voted in favor of the European Parliament's first report dedicated to the transnational repression of human rights, urging the EU to take action to protect against this activity. www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
MEPs warn of increasing repression of human rights activists across borders | News | European Parliament
On Thursday, Parliament urged the EU to tackle actions by authoritarian regimes to coerce, control or silence political opponents and other critical voices abroad.
www.europarl.europa.eu
November 14, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Yesterday, MEPs voted in favor of the European Parliament's first report dedicated to the transnational repression of human rights, urging the EU to take action to protect against this activity. www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Great essay by @nateschenkkan.bsky.social on the driving forces behind the "golden age" of transnational repression.
Project MUSE - The Golden Age of Transnational Repression
muse.jhu.edu
October 9, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Great essay by @nateschenkkan.bsky.social on the driving forces behind the "golden age" of transnational repression.
A few (early) thoughts on digital transnational repression and extraterritorial human rights obligations over at @bindinghook.bsky.social. Thanks for the opportunity to share my research (again!).
Digital transnational repression and the limits of international human rights law in a ‘post-territorial’ world
Traditional models of jurisdiction fail dissidents in an ever more connected world
bindinghook.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A few (early) thoughts on digital transnational repression and extraterritorial human rights obligations over at @bindinghook.bsky.social. Thanks for the opportunity to share my research (again!).
Reposted by Siena Anstis
Spyware industry pockets EU subsidies while snooping on its citizens www.ftm.eu/articles/spy...
Great work by @vaspanagiotopoulos.com showing how EU taxpayer money funds a surveillance industry that sells to authoritarian regimes abroad.
Great work by @vaspanagiotopoulos.com showing how EU taxpayer money funds a surveillance industry that sells to authoritarian regimes abroad.
Spyware industry pockets EU subsidies while snooping on its citizens
The widespread use of commercial spyware for unlawful surveillance across Europe has raised alarm – but the funding of such tools has largely gone under the radar. Follow the Money can reveal how mill...
www.ftm.eu
September 16, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Spyware industry pockets EU subsidies while snooping on its citizens www.ftm.eu/articles/spy...
Great work by @vaspanagiotopoulos.com showing how EU taxpayer money funds a surveillance industry that sells to authoritarian regimes abroad.
Great work by @vaspanagiotopoulos.com showing how EU taxpayer money funds a surveillance industry that sells to authoritarian regimes abroad.
Reposted by Siena Anstis
"A tsunami of AI-enabled disinformation is already upon us, polluting the public sphere and seeping back into the language models that AI systems feed upon. What to do?"
My latest oped in @theglobeandmail.com 👇
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
My latest oped in @theglobeandmail.com 👇
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: Canada’s new Minister of AI must not be naive to its harms
AI is not just being deployed to expand human understanding, but to systematically subvert it as well
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:40 PM
"A tsunami of AI-enabled disinformation is already upon us, polluting the public sphere and seeping back into the language models that AI systems feed upon. What to do?"
My latest oped in @theglobeandmail.com 👇
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
My latest oped in @theglobeandmail.com 👇
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Siena Anstis
The final part of our AJIL Unbound series on reparations is now available online. Read "What Can International Law Repair?" now! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
September 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The final part of our AJIL Unbound series on reparations is now available online. Read "What Can International Law Repair?" now! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
New positive development in the AlHathloul v. Dark Matter and others case with the court allowing the case to proceed despite lack of jurisdiction arguments made by the defendants: www.eff.org/document/alh...
AlHathloul v. DarkMatter - Opinion and Order on Motion to Dismiss
151_opinion_and_order_2025-08-12.pdf
www.eff.org
August 16, 2025 at 9:15 AM
New positive development in the AlHathloul v. Dark Matter and others case with the court allowing the case to proceed despite lack of jurisdiction arguments made by the defendants: www.eff.org/document/alh...
Looking forward to this series on accountability for spyware harms from Just Security: www.justsecurity.org/117335/legal...
Legal Frameworks for Addressing Spyware Harms
Introducing a new series on accountability for spyware harms convened by the Atlantic Council in partnership with Just Security.
www.justsecurity.org
August 16, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Looking forward to this series on accountability for spyware harms from Just Security: www.justsecurity.org/117335/legal...
Reposted by Siena Anstis
Ron Deibert is absolutely the voice that the infosec industry needs to be listening to right now. We are in a moment where fascism is consolidating power and most of the infosec industry is either playing along or is busy bragging about how much AI they've shoved into their products.
August 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Ron Deibert is absolutely the voice that the infosec industry needs to be listening to right now. We are in a moment where fascism is consolidating power and most of the infosec industry is either playing along or is busy bragging about how much AI they've shoved into their products.
Reposted by Siena Anstis
beijing forces thai art gallery to shutdown an exhibition on transnational repression.
hey siri, what’s the definition of transnational repression?
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
hey siri, what’s the definition of transnational repression?
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Exclusive: Thai gallery removes China-focused artworks after 'pressure' from Beijing
In what artists called the latest attempt by Beijing to silence critics overseas, the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre changed multiple works by artists in exile in the exhibit on authoritarian governments collaborating across borders.
www.reuters.com
August 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM
beijing forces thai art gallery to shutdown an exhibition on transnational repression.
hey siri, what’s the definition of transnational repression?
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
hey siri, what’s the definition of transnational repression?
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Siena Anstis
NEW: 🇩🇪#Germany's top court says spyware severely violates fundamental rights.
Bans spyware in cases with <3year sentences.
Imposes tough proportionality tests. Restricts #spyware to serious cases.
Very interesting 1/
www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/P...
Bans spyware in cases with <3year sentences.
Imposes tough proportionality tests. Restricts #spyware to serious cases.
Very interesting 1/
www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/P...
August 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
NEW: 🇩🇪#Germany's top court says spyware severely violates fundamental rights.
Bans spyware in cases with <3year sentences.
Imposes tough proportionality tests. Restricts #spyware to serious cases.
Very interesting 1/
www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/P...
Bans spyware in cases with <3year sentences.
Imposes tough proportionality tests. Restricts #spyware to serious cases.
Very interesting 1/
www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/P...