Jerry Jackson Serbian Police Accused of Misusing Surveillance Tools
Amnesty International has accused Serbian authorities of hacking phones and surveilling activists and journalists without legal oversight. According to the report, Serbian police and intelligence services used Cellebrite forensic tools and Serbian-made spyware “NoviSpy.”
The spyware allegedly extracted sensitive information, captured screenshots, and copied contact lists from the devices of targeted individuals. Serbian officials have denied the claims, calling them “nonsensical.”
The report draws from testimonies of over a dozen activists and journalists. Many said their phones were hacked during detentions or police questioning, raising concerns about privacy violations and state overreach.
Advanced Technology Enables Widespread Digital Surveillance
Cellebrite’s forensic tools, widely used by global law enforcement, can unlock devices and extract data. Amnesty says Serbian authorities misused these tools to target journalists and activists without proper oversight. NoviSpy, a Serbian spyware, infected devices to collect data covertly.
NoviSpy reportedly captured screenshots, duplicated contact lists, and sent the data to a government-controlled server. Amnesty found evidence that these technologies were used together to extract and store sensitive data during police detentions.
Investigative journalist Slaviša Milanov is among the affected individuals. Milanov noticed irregularities on his phone after being stopped by police in February. Amnesty’s forensic analysis revealed that Cellebrite tools were used to unlock his phone, and NoviSpy was installed to monitor his activity.
Amnesty emphasized that this combination of surveillance tools exposed nearly all of Milanov’s private data to Serbian authorities. The report claims this reflects a wider pattern of state control and repression.
Surveillance Allegations Amid Political Unrest
The allegations arise during widespread anti-government protests against Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The demonstrations began after a deadly infrastructure collapse killed 15 people in November. Led by students and activists, the protests remain largely peaceful but highlight public discontent.
President Vučić has accused foreign entities, NGOs, and Western intelligence services of financing the protests. He describes their actions as “hybrid warfare” against his administration and Serbia.
Amnesty criticized Serbia’s use of surveillance tools, warning that their misuse could harm civil society and press freedom. Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty’s deputy regional director for Europe, called for greater oversight of such technologies to prevent abuse.
Serbia’s intelligence agency, BIA, rejected Amnesty’s findings, asserting that their operations comply with Serbian law. The agency dismissed the allegations as baseless and declined further comment. Serbian police have not publicly addressed the report.
The report also scrutinizes Serbia’s ties with Russia and China, including collaborations on intelligence and surveillance technologies. Amnesty’s findings may influence Serbia’s international relations and its bid for European Union membership.