Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Yemeni Armed Forces: We carried out three operations targeting Umm al-Rashrash Port, a military target in al-Naqab, and Lydd Airport with four drones
Yemeni Armed Forces: We carried out four military operations, including one targeting Lydd Airport with a Thulfiqar ballistic missile
Syria's Foreign Ministry: We welcome the US and Arab efforts aimed at resolving the current crisis peacefully.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the conflicting parties agreed on the specific steps to end the hostilities in Syria, adding that the situation is expected to be resolved tonight.
Israeli media outlet: One soldier killed and two seriously injured when a tank was targeted with an explosive device east of Gaza
Israeli fighter jets targeted the Mezzeh military airport and the Moadamiyeh al-Sham mountains with several airstrikes.
Israeli fighter jets targeted the 100th Regiment in the vicinity of the Qatana area in the southwestern Damascus countryside.
The counterterrorism unit in Kurdistan Iraq says a kamikaze drone hit the US' Hand Oil field in the Baadari area of Dohuk governorate.
Israeli occupation army: Air raid sirens sounded in various areas after a missile was detected from Yemen
Hezbollah: Experience has proven that this enemy does not respect covenants, does not abide by any agreements, and only grasps the language of force

Amnesty accuses Serbia of spying on journalists using Israeli spyware

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Amnesty International
  • 16 Dec 2024 21:12
3 Min Read

Amnesty reports that activists and journalists experienced suspicious activity on their phones immediately after encounters with Serbian police or intelligence officials.

Listen
  • x
  • A picture taken on March 24, 2016 in Petah Tikva shows the offices of Israeli company Cellebrite, a provider of mobile forensic software. (AFP/File)
    A picture taken on March 24, 2016, in Petah Tikva shows the offices of Israeli company Cellebrite, a provider of mobile forensic software. (AFP/File)

Amnesty International has accused Serbian officials of deploying spyware on the phones of journalists and activists, according to a report released Monday.

The spyware, dubbed "NoviSpy" by Amnesty, was allegedly used to extract sensitive information, including contacts and private photos, and upload it to servers controlled by the Serbian intelligence agency, BIA.

The findings, based on digital forensic evidence and testimony from activists, suggest that Serbian authorities used technology from Israeli company Cellebrite to unlock devices before infecting them with NoviSpy.

Cellebrite tools are widely used by law enforcement globally, including the FBI.

Read more: Israeli NSO, not government clients, controls spyware operations

Allegations of targeted surveillance

Amnesty reports that activists and journalists experienced suspicious activity on their phones immediately after encounters with Serbian police or intelligence officials.

One activist stated that their contacts were exported and private photos were sent to a government-controlled server shortly after a meeting with BIA.

The spyware reportedly took covert screenshots of infected devices and copied data to facilitate ongoing surveillance.

🚨 BREAKING: Amnesty’s latest report on digital surveillance in Serbia: new *NoviSpy* spyware discovered; zero days identified and patched; and first evidence showing use of Cellebrite UFED forensic products to unlock phones to then infect with spyware. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/HGYHvnXa4W

— Donncha Ó Cearbhaill (@DonnchaC) December 16, 2024

Cellebrite Investigates Misuse

Cellebrite, the Israeli firm whose tools were used to unlock phones, stated that it does not create spyware and emphasized that such usage would violate its licensing agreements.

"Should those accusations be accurate, that could potentially be in violation of our end user license agreement," said Chief Marketing Officer David Gee.

Cellebrite has begun contacting Serbian officials and warned it could suspend their access to its technology if the allegations are substantiated.

International implications

The spyware technology was part of an EU integration support program funded by Norway and administered by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) between 2017 and 2021.

The program was intended to help Serbia combat organized crime.

Norwegian authorities raised concerns about the program in 2018, temporarily halting deliveries of Cellebrite devices to Serbia. Despite these concerns, the technology was delivered in 2019.

Read more: Israeli Intellexa spyware entity, five individuals under US sanctions

Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister, Maria Varteressian, described the allegations as "alarming and unacceptable" and pledged to meet Serbian authorities and UNOPS to seek clarity.

UNOPS welcomed Amnesty's report and stated that it has since enhanced mechanisms to mitigate potential abuses, though it did not provide details.

Serbia denies allegations

Serbian intelligence agency BIA denied the accusations, stating it operates within local laws and called Amnesty's report "nonsensical."

Serbia's interior and foreign ministries have yet to respond to the allegations.

  • NoviSpy
  • Serbia
  • Cellebrite
  • Israeli spyware
  • Amnesty International

Most Read

An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Druze from Syria protest in the Israeli-occupied Majdal Shams of the occupied Golan Heights, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Syria's Druze leaders divided over ceasefire; IOF vow more operations

Special Envoy of the Iranian Foreign Minister and his Assistant for West Asian Affairs, Raouf Sheibani. (IRNA)
Politics

Iran will not yield to snapback threats: Iran FM advisor - Exclusive

Mourners attend the funeral of the Palestinian teenager Amjad Nassar Awad Hawshiya, 15, who was killed in an Israeli raid, in the West Bank village of Yatta, south of al-Khalil, Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' transfers Ibrahimi Mosque authority to settler council

President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Trump admin. to deny bond hearings for undocumented immigrants

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS