Espionage

Serbia Allegedly Hits 14 Activists With Pegasus Spyware

Is Serbia's security agency strictly following the law or aggressively deploying Pegasus spyware against activists before elections?

SEP 4·Updated SEP 7

Serbia Allegedly Hits 14 Activists With Pegasus Spyware

Story

Above: Graphic summarizing the capabilities of the Pegasus spyware developed by Israeli software firm NSO Group. Image credit: Nicholas Shearman/AFP Infographics/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Serbia's security agency follows the law strictly and these spyware claims amount to trivial sensationalism from opposition groups pushing foreign interests. No evidence backs illegal targeting of students or activists before elections. Officials rightly call out the accusations as pointless drama without facts.

Serbia in English on X

Balkan Insight on X

Narrative B

Serbian authorities aggressively deploy mercenary spyware like Pegasus against peaceful student activists and opposition figures to crush dissent before key elections. This marks the largest wave of such illegal surveillance yet and directly threatens pro-democracy efforts. The timing with local and parliamentary votes exposes a clear bid to rig outcomes.

Kenneth Roth on X Security Affairs

John Scott-Railton on X