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Serbian Police Allegedly Deploy Spyware Against Journalists And Activists

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Serbian police and intelligence agencies have been accused of using advanced spyware and mobile forensic tools to unlawfully surveil journalists, activists, and civil society members, according to a new report by Amnesty International .

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• Serbian Authorities Accused of Hacking Journalists and Activists Using Spyware Tools
• Serbian authorities allegedly used Cellebrite tools to extract data from journalists’ phones.
• Investigative journalist Slaviša Milanov’s phone was accessed under a fake sobriety test.

The report, “ A Digital Prison: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia ,” reveals troubling evidence of state-backed surveillance tactics undermining free speech and human rights in the country.

Amnesty International’s findings expose how Serbian authorities employed forensic tools developed by Israeli company Cellebrite to unlock and extract data from activists’ and journalists’ mobile phones.

Furthermore, Serbian security agencies reportedly deployed NoviSpy, a previously unknown Android spyware, to infect devices covertly during police detentions or interrogations.

Cellebrite’s forensic tools, widely used by law enforcement worldwide, enable the extraction of data from locked devices, bypassing security protocols even on newer smartphones.

NoviSpy, though less sophisticated than commercial spyware like Pegasus, grants authorities extensive surveillance capabilities, including access to personal data and the ability to activate a device’s microphone or camera.

The report cites forensic evidence linking Serbian authorities to spyware infections during detentions. In one case, investigative journalist Slaviša Milanov’s Android phone was reportedly unlocked while in police custody under the pretext of a sobriety test.

Milanov recounted to 404 Media that in February, he and Petar Videnov, editor-in-chief of FAR, were driving to Pirot in southeastern Serbia when, around 10:50 a.m., traffic police stopped them and asked for their identity cards.

Milanov noted that the officers appeared to be on the phone with someone during the interaction. They then informed Milanov that he would need to “go with them for testing for psychoactive substances.”

At the police station, Milanov was asked to turn off his phone and hand over all personal belongings. According to Amnesty International, Milanov did not provide the phone’s passcode. He underwent alcohol and drug testing, both of which came back negative.

Over an hour after the initial stop, Milanov said he asked one of the officers, “What is happening, are we finished, since I have […] tasks to do in Pirot?” The officer replied that they were waiting for the “chief” and stepped out to make phone calls. Milanov recalled overhearing the officer say, “He is negative, and I can’t hold him anymore.”

Subsequently, two plainclothes officers questioned Milanov in a separate building about his journalism and FAR’s funding. Authorities eventually returned his belongings, and he was released.

Later, Milanov noticed unusual activity on his phone, such as mobile data and Wi-Fi being turned off, and certain apps consuming excessive battery power. He used Stay Free , a usage-tracking app, which revealed that multiple applications had been active while the phone was in police possession, he told 404 Media.

“I am concerned by the way police behave during the incident, especially the way how they took/extracted the data from my mobilephone without using legal procedures,” told Milanov to 404 Media.

“The fact that they extracted 1.6 GB data from my mobilephone, including personal, family and business information as well as information about our associates and people serving as a ‘source of information’ for journalist research, is unacceptable,” he added

Further cases include an activist from the NGO Krokodil, whose Samsung device was compromised during an interview with Serbia’s Security Information Agency (BIA). Amnesty’s analysis uncovered surveillance data, including screenshots of private communications, captured without consent.

Serbian civil society members report feeling traumatized, describing the surveillance as a form of digital imprisonment. “This is an incredibly effective way to completely discourage communication between people. Anything that you say could be used against you, which is paralyzing at both personal and professional levels,” said one activist.

Cellebrite responded to the findings, stating that their tools do not install spyware and are licensed only for lawful investigations. However, Amnesty’s research highlights how such tools can be misused without oversight, posing significant risks to human rights.

Amnesty International has called on Serbian authorities to cease the unlawful use of spyware, provide remedies to victims, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Photo by gibblesmash asdf on Unsplash

Waymo To Begin Testing Autonomous Vehicles In Japan

• Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert

The American robotaxi company Waymo—owned by Alphabet—announced yesterday that it will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, next year, the company’s first international expansion.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• Waymo partnered with the Japanese companies GO and Nihon Kotsu to launch its autonomous vehicles in Tokyo
• The first vehicles will arrive in early 2025 and will be driven manually first to map routes and test Waymo’s Driver software
• The technology aligns with the Japanese government’s vision of mobility and safety

In the press release , Waymo explained that they have partnered with the Japanese companies GO—a taxi-hailing application— and Nihon Kotsu—popular taxi and limousine service providers in the region—for this expansion.

“Our upcoming road trip to Tokyo gives us the chance to work alongside local partners, government officials, and community groups to understand the new landscape,” wrote the company in the statement. “ We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo’s residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.”

The startup has acknowledged challenges for its system, like adjusting to left-hand traffic, in a different culture. According to the document, this partnership aligns with the Japanese government’s mission of developing innovative technology to improve mobility and safety.

Toyota recently partnered with the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) —partly owned by the Japanese government—to reach a “society with zero traffic accidents” with new mobility AI software.

Waymo said the first vehicles, all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs, will arrive in Japan in early 2025 and Nihon Kotsu drivers will be driving the vehicles manually at the beginning to map routes across the Japanese capital. The introduction of the vehicles to the routes will allow Waymo’s AI-powered software Waymo Driver to adjust to the new environment.

This year, Waymo developed strategies and built multiple partnerships to expand in the United States. In August the company deployed its vehicles on San Francisco freeways , in September Waymo partnered with Uber to expand to Atlanta and Austin, and with Hyundai in October to add more EV taxis to its fleet .