Digital Repression: Serbia’s Spyware Campaign Against Journalists and Dissidents

December 22, 2024 -Serbia –

A report by Amnesty International, spotlighted by Deutsche Welle, the Associated Press, Reuters, and The Guardian, exposed a systematic spyware campaign orchestrated by Serbia’s state agencies to target journalists, activists, and government critics.

Amnesty’s forensic analysis revealed that individuals—many of whom had not been charged with any crime—were detained or summoned by the Security Information Agency (BIA) or police. During interrogations, their phones were accessed using Israeli-made Cellebrite forensic tools to crack device security, and bespoke spyware called “NoviSpy” was loaded onto their devices. This spyware covertly harvested screenshots, contact lists, photos, and even microphone and camera access, uploading the data to government-controlled servers.

Several documented cases include journalist Slaviša Milanov of FAR, who noticed his phone behaving strangely after returning from police custody. Experts identified NoviSpy and digital extraction during his detention. In early 2025, BIRN journalists were also targeted—two reportedly infected with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, a highly intrusive cyber surveillance tool.

The use of spyware in these cases was widely condemned. Amnesty labeled it part of a “Digital Prison” aimed at suppressing dissent and encroaching on civil society. Media watchdogs—Media Freedom Rapid Response, Reporters Without Borders, and the International Press Institute—noted a sharp rise in threats, office raids, online smear campaigns, and now clandestine digital surveillance.

Serbia’s government dismissed the claims, stating that forensic tools were used lawfully and that spyware use was consistent with practices in other countries. Cellebrite has launched an investigation into alleged misuse.

This clandestine surveillance comes as Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, faces escalating internal protests over public safety failures and allegations of corruption. Opponents and critics see the targeting of media professionals as part of a broader authoritarian shift under President Vučić, prompting demands for an independent investigation and EU intervention.

Reference –

https://www.dw.com/en/serbia-monitors-journalists-and-dissidents-with-spyware/a-71132881