Cellebrite Halts Service in Serbia Amid Allegations of Police Spying Technology Abuse
Cellebrite, a leading digital intelligence company, made headlines on Tuesday by halting its technology usage in Serbia amid serious allegations. The Serbian police and intelligence agencies are accused of utilizing Cellebrite’s tools to unlawfully access the smartphones of a journalist and an activist, subsequently deploying spyware on their devices.
Allegations of Misuse of Technology
In December 2024, a report from Amnesty International raised concerns that the Serbian police exploited Cellebrite’s forensic tools to breach the security of mobile phones belonging to local journalist and activist. Following the unauthorized access, authorities reportedly installed an Android spyware known as Novispy to continue monitoring their activities.
Cellebrite’s Response
In a formal statement, Cellebrite expressed its commitment to ethics by stating, “After a review of the allegations brought forth by the December 2024 Amnesty International report, Cellebrite took precise steps to investigate each claim in accordance with our ethics and integrity policies. We found it appropriate to stop the use of our products by the relevant customers at this time.”
Details on Customer Suspension
While Cellebrite did not disclose the identity of the customer involved, the company acknowledged awareness of the findings related to the misuse of surveillance technologies against civil society in Serbia. When questioned by TechCrunch about the duration of the suspension or the possibility of reinstatement, spokesperson Victor Cooper refrained from providing further details.
Calls for Accountability and Reform
Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, head of the Security Lab at Amnesty International, emphasized the importance of Cellebrite’s decision, stating, “Withdrawing licenses from customers who misused the equipment for political reasons is a critical first step. Now, Serbian authorities must urgently conduct their own thorough and impartial investigations, hold those responsible to account, provide remedies to victims, and establish adequate safeguards to prevent future abuse.”
Contact Information
If you have further information regarding Cellebrite or other similar companies, please reach out using secure methods. Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai can be contacted on Signal at +1 917 257 1382 or via Telegram and Keybase @lorenzofb. You can also contact TechCrunch via SecureDrop.
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