Amnesty International revealed on Monday that Serbia’s secret service and police have been engaging in surveillance activities targeting journalists and opposition activists. The watchdog’s report, titled “A Digital Prison: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia,” exposed the use of spyware installed on mobile phones to monitor individuals. According to the report, the spy software enabled unauthorized access to devices, allowing for the capture of covert screenshots and the extraction of contact lists. The obtained data was then allegedly uploaded to a server controlled by the government.
Testimonies from those who claim their phones were hacked in recent months supported the findings outlined in the Amnesty International report. The Serbian police and the Security Information Agency (BIA) were accused of deploying the spyware to infect devices during instances when the owners were detained or interviewed by law enforcement. Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for Europe, highlighted the use of surveillance technology and digital repression tactics as tools for broader state control and suppression of civil society in Serbia.
In response to the allegations, Serbia’s police issued a statement refuting the claims made in the Amnesty report, asserting that the forensic tool was utilized similarly to practices adopted by law enforcement agencies worldwide. The Serbian spy agency, BIA, maintained on its website that its operations strictly adhere to the laws of the Republic of Serbia, dismissing the accusations as baseless.
The release of the Amnesty report coincides with President Aleksandar Vucic facing significant challenges to his prolonged autocratic rule, as anti-government protests gain momentum. Following a tragic incident where a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals, protests erupted, fueled by concerns over corruption and nepotism among state officials. The building reconstruction mishap, part of a wider railway project involving Chinese state companies, sparked public outrage over perceived negligence.
President Vucic has attributed the protests to what he describes as “hybrid warfare” orchestrated by Western intelligence services, non-governmental organizations, and foreign media. The protesters, mainly led by university students and opposition activists, have been vocal in their dissent against the government. The Belgrade Center for Security Policy, an NGO, strongly condemned the misuse of digital surveillance technologies by authorities and called for a transparent investigation into the allegations raised by Amnesty International.
As Serbia continues to pursue European Union membership, the country has strengthened ties with Russia and China, including collaboration with their respective intelligence agencies. This partnership, officials claim, aims to counter so-called “colored revolutions” characterized by street protests against oppressive regimes.
The intricate web of surveillance, allegations of digital repression, and the backdrop of political turmoil in Serbia underscore the complexities of modern governance and civil liberties. The call for accountability, transparency, and respect for fundamental freedoms resonates not only within the country but also on the global stage, where the balancing act between security measures and individual rights remains a contentious issue.
