More than a dozen Serbians targeted with mercenary spyware, digital rights group finds
A digital rights organization has identified more than a dozen people in Serbia who were targeted with mercenary spyware, according to new findings. The report adds to a growing record of commercial surveillance tools being used against individuals in the country.
Why this matters: Mercenary spyware is not a military weapon. It is software sold as a product, deployed against specific people, usually to track what they say, who they talk to, and where they go. Serbia is not the first country where this happens, and the targets are rarely random. Journalists, activists, and opposition figures tend to show up on these lists. When a government or anyone else can buy a tool that turns your phone into a surveillance device, the people most at risk are the ones already trying to hold power accountable.
Who should care: Privacy officers · Cybersecurity
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