A new report has revealed that Serbia’s intelligence agency has installed spyware programs on the phones of journalists and activists. This news comes amid growing protests against the autocratic rule of President Aleksandar Vučić.
In early November, young activist Nikola Ristić led protests in Belgrade, demanding the resignation of politicians following a tragedy in which 15 people were killed when a tent collapsed at the Novi Sad train station, the second-largest city in Serbia.
According to a report by the human rights organization Amnesty International, on November 3, Ristić was detained by the police and questioned by the BIA, Serbia’s national intelligence and security agency. “It was more of an attempt to convince me to stop being an activist,” he told Balkan Insight, a publication by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), which interviewed journalists for Amnesty’s report.
During the questioning, Ristić’s phone was in another room, where the Serbian spyware NoviSpy was installed. This was just one of several documented cases by Amnesty.
Israeli and Domestic Software
Serbian authorities have long been suspected of using both domestic and Israeli software to spy on the phones of activists and journalists. However, an examination of the phones of dozens of activists and journalists now provides solid evidence.
According to Amnesty, the police and BIA used software from the Israeli company Cellebrite to unlock the phones, after which the NoviSpy spyware was installed. This spyware allows the BIA access to all contacts on the phone, as well as screenshots that reveal everything a person does or types on their device. Reports also indicate that the microphone and camera can be activated remotely.
Response from the Israeli Company
Cellebrite, the software company also used by the FBI, confirmed its collaboration with Serbian authorities but emphasized that the tool is not intended for the type of use revealed by Amnesty’s report.
“If these allegations prove to be true, this could constitute a violation of the end-user license agreement,” said David Gee, the company’s marketing director, in a statement to Reuters. In this case, the use of the technology by Serbian authorities could be officially suspended, he added.
Restricting Critical Opinion
President Vučić, who has held a firm grip on power since 2017, is facing significant challenges with the latest criticism regarding the use of spyware, alongside massive protests. Critics fear that surveillance and repression will intensify.
As journalist Nedim Sejdinović said: “Over the years, the state has spared no means to achieve one goal: the destruction of critical thought.”
