According to a report published on December 16, 2024, Serbian officials used the NoviSpy spyware to track the phones of dozens of journalists and activists. The software secretly captures screens, copies contacts and uploads data to a server controlled by the Serbian government, News.bg reports.
The Amnesty International report reveals that there are two cases in which software from the Israeli company Cellebrite was used to unlock phones before they were infected with NoviSpy. Cellebrite offers products that are typically used by law enforcement agencies, but the company notes that if a violation of its license agreement is found, it will terminate Serbian authorities’ access to its technology.
Spyware and the Accusations of Surveillance
One of the activists who fell victim to this surveillance noticed that his contacts had been exported after a meeting with the Serbian Security and Information Agency (BIA). Digital forensics experts confirmed that the software had been installed on his device, and that personal photos and contacts had been sent to a server controlled by the BIA. According to the human rights organization, this highlights serious concerns about human rights and political freedom in the country.
Serbian ties to Cellebrite and the international response
The information in the report shows that Serbia received devices from Cellebrite as part of an aid package provided by the Norwegian government to combat organized crime. Although the deliveries were temporarily suspended in 2018, devices from the company were again provided to the Serbian Ministry of the Interior in June 2019.
Norway, through the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maria Varterasyan, expressed serious concerns about the case and announced its intention to hold meetings with the Serbian authorities and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The latter stated that it was taking measures to assess the situation following the publication of the Amnesty International report.
Reactions of the Serbian authorities
The Serbian ministries of interior and foreign affairs, as well as the BIA, did not provide any comment on the allegations made in the report. However, the international community expressed strong concerns, both about the violations of citizens' rights and the misuse of technology provided to strengthen law enforcement agencies, but not for espionage activities.
The publication by Amnesty International calls into question not only the use of spying technologies in Serbia, but also the way in which international partners such as Norway fund the expanded judicial assistance in the country. Despite the lack of comment from official authorities, this case is yet another signal of a trend of using technologies for political control, with the potential for serious consequences for personal freedom and human rights.