Serbian authorities using spyware to illegally surveil activists, report finds
Guardian5 days
Report: Serbian Police Using Israeli Tech to Spy on Activists
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Above: Police officers take security measures as hundreds of teachers in Kosovo march in the capital in Pristina, Kosovo on Dec. 4, 2024. Image copyright: Erkin Keci/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
According to an Amnesty International investigation, Serbian authorities are using forensic tools and spyware from Israeli company Cellebrite to conduct surveillance on journalists and activists during police interviews and detentions.
The NoviSpy spyware, attributed to Serbia's Security Information Agency (BIA), can capture screenshots, access contact lists, and remotely activate device cameras and microphones once installed on Android phones.
The Spin
Left narrative
This report is no surprise given the ruling SNS Party's authoritarian tendencies. Elections have been rigged through media control, vote buying, and voter manipulation, with the recent parliamentary and municipal elections demonstrating extreme electoral engineering. This pattern of behavior indicates a deliberate strategy to suppress opposition and control the public narrative — hallmarks of an authoritarian regime.
Right narrative
Western opposition to Serbia has nothing to do with authoritarianism but rather Pres. Aleksandar Vučić's refusal to align with EU policies on Russia and migration. Rather than spend time antagonizing Moscow, Serbia has chosen to focus on protecting its border and opposing EU migration policies. Reports like these, whether they contain some truth or not, are likely another propaganda campaign aimed at forcing Serbia to bend the knee to Brussels.
Cynical narrative
The real culprit behind these incidents is the Israeli spyware industry, which is a threat to global security and civil liberties. Companies like NSO Group and Cellebrite, with roots in Israeli military intelligence, sell these tools to both democratic and authoritarian nations. This trade enables surveillance and repression worldwide, as these technologies are used for human rights abuses, blackmail, and silencing dissent across dozens of countries.
