With Israeli spy equipment against opponents of the Vucic regime.

ReporterIndependentProgressive4 days ago

At least 14 representatives of Serbia's civil society were targeted by cyberattacks, according to their claims, which coincided with local elections and could potentially occur before early parliamentary elections. The victims included members of student movements, activists, opposition MPs, and local councilors, as reported by the Serbian nonprofit organization SHARE Foundation, which focuses on data protection and digital security. The attacks were discovered in August after Apple warned users in 110 countries that they might have been targets of spyware from private companies. According to SHARE, this represents the largest documented wave of such attacks in Serbia to date. Members of the student movement, which has been a driving force behind anti-government protests for nearly two years, stated that the targets were not random but part of their operational teams. Two types of malware were identified on the attacked devices: Pegasus, sold by the Israeli company NSO, and NoviSpy, developed in Serbia. Both allow access to messages, location data, and phone cameras and microphones, effectively turning the devices into surveillance tools. SHARE highlighted that the period of these

Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights cyberattacks targeting civil society figures and opposition groups in Serbia, suggesting state involvement or complicity. It frames the attacks as politically motivated, undermining privacy, freedom of expression, and electoral integrity. The narrative emphasizes the potential

N1 SlovenijaIndependentProgressive4 days ago

The article reports on a significant surveillance scandal in Serbia involving the use of hacking software on smartphones belonging to students and opposition members. Over a dozen individuals have been targeted by spyware such as Pegasus, developed by the Israeli firm NSO, and another called NoviSpy, which operates on Android devices. The victims include activists, journalists, and students, with some alleging state involvement due to their participation in local election campaigns. The organization SHARE Foundation has documented 14 cases this year, with Apple notifying users of potential threats. Canadian firm Citizen Lab confirmed that Pegasus was installed via a 'zero-click' exploit in iMessage, bypassing user interaction. One student, Ognjen Rašić, suspects Serbian authorities were behind his targeting due to his role in a pro-independence campaign. Another case involved a police detainee whose phone was infected while being held during pre-election detention.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the surveillance as a politically motivated attack against dissenters, particularly those involved in opposition movements and local elections. It highlights the involvement of state actors and connects the surveillance to political activism, suggesting a broader pattern of state-