A report by Amnesty International reveals that Serbian police and intelligence services are using advanced forensic tools and NoviSpy spyware to surveil activists, journalists, and civil society members. Tools from the Israeli firm Cellebrite are being employed to unlock devices and install spyware during police interrogations or confiscations, violating Serbian law and fundamental rights. Amnesty’s findings suggest the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA) is behind these actions, targeting individuals like investigative journalist Slaviša Milanov and environmental activist Nikola Ristić. NoviSpy, though less advanced than Pegasus, allows remote access to microphones and cameras, severely impacting personal and professional freedoms. European Digital Rights (EDRi) and 50 European and Serbian organizations have urged the EU to pressure Serbian authorities to halt these abuses, prosecute those responsible, and ensure protection against recurrence. This scandal underscores Serbia’s deteriorating rule of law and rising repression of civil liberties, as calls grow for accountability and adherence to legal safeguards. Read more here.
Source: The Guardian/ EDRi