Open Letter: Serbian authorities must prosecute illegal hacking of journalists and activists

Today, 19 December, European Digital Rights (EDRi) and 50 organisations urge the European Union’s institutions to take action to stop the Serbian authorities’ illegal use of spyware to target journalists, activists, and members of civil society.

On 16 December, Amnesty International released a report exposing widespread abuses by the Serbian police and Security Information Agency (BIA) through the use of spyware such as NoviSpy. Activists, journalists, and civil society members were targeted, with their phones infected during interrogations or when confiscated. These actions flagrantly violate Serbian laws and fundamental rights.

This scandal is happening in parallel with the general deterioration of the human rights situation and rule of law in Serbia. Journalists, activists, and civil society members face increasing arrests, intimidation, and repression, further threatening fundamental freedoms.

We therefore call upon the European Union institutions to:

• Urge the Serbian Government to adhere to its own legal framework and immediately cease the illegal use of NoviSpy and other spyware, which disproportionately interferes with fundamental rights, and for which there are no adequate safeguards to prevent and redress harms to human rights.
• Urge the Serbian Authorities to halt the crackdown on civil rights and liberties, including arrests and intimidation of journalists, activists and protestors.
• Urge the Special prosecutor’s office for High Tech crimes to investigate the circumstances under which spyware was used against activists in Serbia, and to make sure that remedies are available and accessible for victims, including guarantees of and protection against repetition.
• Urge Serbian independent institutions (Ombudsman and Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection) to investigate the circumstances under which spyware was used against activists in Serbia.

Read the Open Letter