Serbia: Use of spyware against opposition and dissenting voices affects elections quality, warn UN experts

GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed grave concern over the recurrent use of spyware and other digitally enabled surveillance in Serbia surrounding elections and protests, and called on the Government to uphold democratic integrity, safeguard civic space, and immediately cease the criminalisation of political dissent.

“This pattern is especially alarming as anticipated parliamentary elections are approaching,” the experts said. Parliamentary elections have officially been called for 25 October 2026. Serbia must ensure a safe, enabling and conducive environment in which civil society organisations, including election observers, journalists, students and human rights defenders can exercise their rights without fear of surveillance, intimidation or reprisals.

Weeks ago, several student movement members and opposition politicians allegedly received phone warnings indicating that they were targeted by a spyware attack. Technical reviews confirmed infections containing traces of a new version of NoviSpy, a spyware reported in use since 2013 against journalists and activists. The experts noted that worrisome harassment against civil society actors, including election observers, and human rights defenders had been previously reported. Such practices jeopardise the ability of different actors to monitor, document and report on human rights concerns, and contribute to public debate and electoral accountability.

They stressed that the deployment of spyware and communications interception threatens the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association, expression, privacy and political participation, and undermines the right of individuals and groups to promote and protect human rights. Before an election, it discourages participation in political assemblies and civil society campaign activities. During the election, it may influence voter turnout. After an election, it may enable reprisals against dissenting voices.

The experts have consistently reported on alleged human rights violations surrounding protests in Serbia. They noted actions undermining the right to education, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, freedom of expression, including alleged pressure on media freedom, as well as threats and attacks against journalists and media workers, the right to participate in public affairs, and the right to privacy, particularly affecting students, academic staff, as well as academic freedom and university autonomy.

The experts warned that civil society organisations, student activists, human rights defenders, opposition leaders, and journalists face online and offline surveillance, including spyware deployment — allegedly installed covertly during police interviews or arbitrary detentions linked to peaceful protests — alongside cyber-attacks, smear campaigns, and physical harassment.

“Spyware technologies are inherently incompatible with human rights, and their use and transfer must be prohibited.”

The experts said that the use of surveillance tools against dissent and opposition, including the NSO Group’s Pegasus and domestically developed Android system known as NoviSpy, and Cellebrite’s UFED forensics tools, alongside recent allegations, confirms a pattern of unlawful surveillance and intimidation aimed at activism and dissent.

“Uncertainty surrounding the use of digital technology in the context of elections fosters a climate of fear and creates a profound chilling effect for democratic participation,” the experts said.

“Without full respect for freedoms of assembly, association and expression before, during and after elections, the electoral process cannot be considered free and fair.”