Serbian activists and opposition figures targeted with sophisticated spyware before elections
A digital rights group says at least 14 Serbian civil-society members were infected with advanced spyware ahead of March local elections.
According to the SHARE Foundation, at least 14 individuals involved in Serbia's civil society—including members of a student movement, opposition MPs and a municipal councilor—were hit by sophisticated spyware ahead of the March 29 local elections. One phone was infected with Pegasus, the Israeli-made tool from NSO Group, while two others showed signs of a NoviSpy-type malware previously exposed in Serbia. Apple had alerted users in 110 countries in August, later expanding notifications to over 150 nations.
Researchers from Amnesty International’s security lab and the Citizen Lab confirmed a zero-click Pegasus implant on a student activist’s device between December 2025 and January 2026. No party has claimed responsibility; NSO Group and the Serbian government did not respond to inquiries. The report warns that similar digital attacks could recur during the upcoming October parliamentary elections.
Why it matters
The spyware attacks reveal how digital surveillance is being used to intimidate opposition ahead of key Serbian elections.
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