Serbian authorities hacking and installing spyware on activists’ phones

Serbian police are using mobile hacking tools to hack into the phones of activists and journalists and then install spyware to track them. amnesty international warn in a report. The group said the country uses tools developed by Israeli company Cellebrite to help law enforcement unlock devices for forensic purposes.

Amnesty International calls on the Serbian government to end these surveillance practices:

Serbian authorities must End the use of highly intrusive spyware, provide effective remedies for victims of unlawful targeted surveillance, and hold those responsible for violations accountable. Cellebrite and other digital forensics companies must also conduct adequate due diligence to ensure that their products are not used in a way that results in human rights violations.

Amnesty International collected various accounts of how Serbian authorities handled calls from members of civil society who were detained in different premises and subjected them to additional procedures (such as drug testing and psychological assessments) that added to the additional time spent in detention, So the total amount increases and the authorities have access to their phones for a while. During this period, police will plant “Novispy” – a possible state-developed spyware program – on their phones. Amnesty International explained in the document that some devices were compromised using a (patched) Qualcomm vulnerability.

Report a case 404 media Slaviša Milanov, deputy editor of Serbian news outlet FAR, was driving with the editor when they were stopped by Serbian authorities, who detained them and confiscated their mobile phones. When the phone was returned, they noticed Changes such as data and Wi-Fi being turned off and apps consuming a lot of energy.

Milanov said that when he retrieved his Android device, a Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S, it was running additional software, and although he did not hand over his password, police extracted 1.6GB of data.

Victor Cooper, a senior director at Cellebrite, responded to Amnesty International’s questions, saying the company’s products are “strictly licensed for lawful use” and require a search warrant under an end-user agreement or a legally sanctioned investigation. Cooper also told 404 Media that Cellebrite is investigating “alleged misuse” of its technology and is “prepared to work with any relevant authorities to impose appropriate sanctions.”