Israeli company halts business with Serbia after police misused its technology to hack phones
Cellebrite, an Israeli digital intelligence company, announced on February 25, 2025 that it had suspended the use of its technology by Serbian authorities.
Cellebrite Statement About Amnesty International Report - Cellebrite
Serbia: Cellebrite halts product use in Serbia following Amnesty surveillance report - Amnesty International Security Lab
https://securitylab.amnesty.org/latest/2025/02/serbia-cellebrite-halts-product-use-in-serbia-following-amnesty-surveillance-report/
Cellebrite suspends Serbia as customer after claims police used firm's tech to plant spyware | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/26/cellebrite-suspends-serbia-as-customer-after-claims-police-used-firms-tech-to-plant-spyware/
In December 2024, human rights group Amnesty International released a report accusing Serbian police of using Cellebrite tools to hack the mobile phones of journalists and activists in the country.
The hack allegedly allowed Serbian authorities to install spyware, which Amnesty International calls 'Novispy,' on Android smartphones, enabling them to monitor at least two individuals.
According to Amnesty International, the Serbian police hacked the smartphones using Cellebrite UFED , a product developed by Cellebrite for law enforcement and government agencies. UFED stands for Universal Forensics Extraction Device.
Cellebrite's technology has been the subject of much discussion in the past, including lawsuits over unlocking iPhones.
What is 'Cellebrite,' the world's top smartphone cracking group that became famous for the FBI vs. Apple iPhone unlocking issue? - GIGAZINE
In response to Amnesty International's allegations, Cellebrite released a statement on December 16, 2024, saying, 'We are aware of the Amnesty International report detailing its findings regarding the use of surveillance technology against civilian society in Serbia. We are investigating the allegations made in the report and are prepared to take any action consistent with our ethics and contracts, including terminating our ties with Cellebrite and associated organizations.'
Additionally, Cellebrite updated its statement on February 25, 2025, stating, 'After reviewing the allegations raised in Amnesty International's December 2024 report, Cellebrite took precise steps to investigate each allegation, in accordance with our Ethics and Integrity Policy. This led us to determine that it was appropriate to suspend the use of our products by the affected customers,' revealing that it had suspended business with the customers named in Amnesty International's report.
Cellebrite did not name any specific clients, but the timing of the initial statement, shortly after the Amnesty International allegations and the reference to 'surveillance technology against Serbian civilian society,' suggests that it was the Serbian authorities that Cellebrite severed ties with.
'Revoking licenses from customers who misused the equipment for political reasons is an important first step,' said Donncea Ó Çalbaer, director of Amnesty International's Security Research Institute. 'Serbian authorities must independently and swiftly conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, hold those responsible accountable, provide redress for victims, and establish appropriate safeguards to prevent future misuse.'
TechCrunch reached out to Cellebrite about whether the move was temporary or permanent, and what customers could do to re-sign up, but Cellebrite spokesman Victor Cooper declined to comment.
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