The intelligence service and police in Serbia allegedly used surveillance equipment to monitor journalists and activists, according to a new Amnesty International report. The police reportedly utilized custom software to hack phones, gaining access while individuals were detained or interrogated.
In February, a Serbian investigative journalist was arrested following a breathalyzer test and later found his phone tampered with after questioning. Amnesty’s investigation revealed the phone had been infiltrated.
Similarly, forensic evidence showed Cellebrite products on an environmental activist’s phone, a company known for its technology used by global government agencies. Amnesty claims the report “reveals how Serbian authorities have employed surveillance technology and digital suppression tactics as tools for broader state control and citizen oppression.” The Serbian authorities deny these allegations, describing them as “absolutely incorrect,” while the intelligence service insists on adhering to Serbian laws.
The independent Belgrade Center for Security Policy calls for an independent investigation, labeling the actions as an “attack on fundamental rights” and urges prosecution of responsible police officers.
Source: NOS