Amnesty International has uncovered that Serbian activists and journalists have had their phones hacked by Serbian intelligence and police using Israeli spyware and other mobile device forensic tools. The software is being used to target journalists, environmental activists, and others in a covert surveillance operation, according to Amnesty. Many of those targeted had not been charged with any crime. The Serbian Security Intelligence Agency, BIA, denied using spyware illegally, stating that the tool is used similarly by police forces worldwide.
The use of spyware in Serbia came to light through an investigation by Amnesty International, which found evidence of Cellebrite technology being used to access a journalist’s device. Additionally, a previously unknown spyware program called NoviSpy was discovered on the journalist’s phone. NoviSpy is capable of remotely accessing and extracting information from infected smartphones, posing significant privacy and security risks.
The use of spyware to target journalists and activists is seen as a way to control communication and exert influence over individuals. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have raised concerns about the use of spyware to intimidate and silence those critical of authorities. The legality of using spyware varies by country, with Serbia’s Criminal Procedure Code allowing data retrieval under certain restrictions.
Overall, the use of spyware to target journalists and activists raises serious concerns about privacy, freedom of speech, and human rights violations. International agreements like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aim to protect individuals from arbitrary interference with their privacy and correspondence.