According to a new report published by Amnesty International, Serbian authorities have allegedly installed spyware on the phones of dozens of journalists and activists. The findings, detailed in the document, “A Digital Prison: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia,” point to a concerted effort by the government to silence dissent amidst recent civil unrest and mass protests.
Amnesty International draws from digital forensic evidence and testimonies from activists to support its claims that spyware was installed during police procedures such as interrogations and arrests. Notably, sophisticated commercial spyware technology like Pegasus and Cellebrite UFED was reportedly employed. Intriguingly, the report also mentions NoviSpy, a previously unknown software that may be locally developed and capable of extracting sensitive data and remotely accessing cameras and microphones on Android devices.
The allegations come at a time when Serbia has been accused of cracking down on civil society and environmental activists, manifesting in a series of protests against the government. Amidst these accusations, the Serbian government has yet to provide a formal response, although Cellebrite has announced its intention to investigate any misuse of its technology that could infringe human rights.
The issue of government spyware misuse is not confined to Serbia. Several governments around the world, including those in Hungary and Poland, have faced similar accusations. The deployment of such technology raises significant concerns under European Human Rights Law, especially regarding unauthorized interference with the fundamental right to privacy, which mandates that such actions be both necessary and proportionate.