Amnesty International: Serbian Authorities Use NoviSpy and Cellebrite to Spy on Journalists and Activists

Dec 16, 2024, 11:46 AM

Serbian authorities have been using sophisticated digital surveillance technology to spy on journalists and activists, according to a new report by Amnesty International. The report details how the Serbian police and intelligence services employed advanced spyware, known as NoviSpy, alongside mobile forensic products from Israeli company Cellebrite to unlawfully target civil society members. Specifically, Amnesty International found that Serbian law enforcement used Cellebrite's tools to unlock the phones of a journalist, Slaviša Milanov, and an activist, subsequently installing NoviSpy. This spyware, developed or acquired by Serbian authorities, can capture sensitive personal data, activate microphones and cameras remotely, and upload information to government servers. Amnesty International has raised concerns about the potential misuse of such technologies for digital repression, especially when used outside of legal frameworks.