Vučić concedes Serbian vote after reported Pegasus and Cellebrite targeting
Original title: Serbian autocrat loses election following widespread reports of digital repression
Researchers say mercenary spyware and Cellebrite extractions hit opposition figures, journalists, a rector and a prosecutor.
Aleksandar Vučić admitted defeat in Serbia’s prime minister race after years of reported digital repression. Amnesty International says authorities used Cellebrite to extract data from opponents’ phones and, in some cases, install spyware, including after Cellebrite said in February 2025 it had cut ties. Citizen Lab alleges Pegasus infected University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić’s device, and the SHARE Foundation says prosecutor Rade Bajić was also targeted. A foreign ministry spokesperson did not immediately comment.
Unconfirmed: Pegasus infections and continued Cellebrite use are researchers’ allegations; Belgrade has not confirmed them.
- SHARE says at least 15 people were targeted with mercenary spyware in Serbia this year.
- Amnesty says Cellebrite use continued weeks after the company cut government ties.
- Citizen Lab alleges a Pegasus infection on rector Vladan Đokić’s device earlier this year.
- Amnesty says two investigative journalists were targeted with Pegasus in March 2025.
- Authorities seized servers and computers in Đokić’s Belgrade office in March, Citizen Lab said.
Impact: Covert phone data extraction and spyware on opponents’ devices
- Vendors
- Cellebrite
- Malware
- Pegasus
- Victims
- University of Belgrade
- Organizations
- Amnesty InternationalCitizen LabSHARE Foundation
- Countries
- Serbia
From the original article
2 min read at therecord.mediaSerbian strongman leader Aleksandar Vučić on Sunday admitted defeat in his race for prime minister, a loss that follows a series of incidents of digital repression that galvanized the opposition.
therecord.media
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