Spyware is a type of malicious software that enable attackers to secretly infect a targeted individual’s device. It can then access information on the device, or even take full control of the device without authorization.  Our Digital Forensics Lab is a living lab to monitor and report commercial spyware use and to support civil society and victims from the impact of spyware. The Lab will focus on research and advocacy, intelligence analysis, and technical diagnosis.

The Lab will collaboratively conduct intelligence and monitoring the surveillance landscape across Africa through a network of members and affiliated interest groups. The output of the Lab will involve a quarterly intelligence update for the public and a yearly report to inform advocacy and technical actions. Our training and on-the-ground support for HRDs and CSOs across some of the repressive and highly-censored states in Africa will focus on technical support including Threat analysis, detection handling, removal, and prevention. Forensic analysis and investigation using mobile verification toolkit.

The lab will aim to address both technical and policy/advocacy interventions. On the technical, it will conduct relevant intelligence research and monitoring of spyware use via a network of investigation experts, OSINT researchers, whistleblowers and journalists.