01-08-2025, 09:25 AM
Maybe someone will find it interesting or gonna dive into it.
This article was translated from russian to english. If you'll find any mistakes or if you have any suggestions lmk.
August 25, 2000 marked a grim event in Belgrade: the disappearance of Ivan StamboliŃ›, former president of the Socialist Republic of Serbia. His body was found only in 2019, 80 kilometers away from the place of disappearance, and those who ordered the murder escaped punishment. The story became a symbol of the state's failure to provide justice for the victims of the regime.
Years later, the situation in Serbia remains similar. Modern technology has provided the authorities with new tools of control - the Pegasus and Predator spy programs. Civic activists and opposition politicians are increasingly becoming victims of digital surveillance organized by the state through intermediaries. The spying systems allow not only to monitor the actions of oppositionists, but also to put pressure on journalists, judges and activists.
Chinese support for Belgrade's smart cities concept has also played a key role in the creation of the total surveillance system. More than 8,000 cameras with biometric facial recognition have been installed in the capital, which has drawn sharp criticism from human rights activists.
Despite the formal existence of laws regulating the processing of biometric data, actual control remains in the hands of the Serbian Interior Ministry, allowing the technology to be used to circumvent legal restrictions. Huawei, Hikvision and others have supplied surveillance equipment, allowing Beijing to strengthen its influence in the Balkans. The equipment was purchased through dubious schemes, and the data is used to suppress protests and monitor the opposition.
In 2023, the use of spyware was once again in the spotlight. Activists and international organizations confirmed that civil society was under attack through Pegasus programs. Protests related to corruption and the tragedy at the Novi Sad bus station once again exacerbated public discontent. The use of spyware to spy on protesters and journalists was another reason for mass demonstrations that engulfed universities in major cities across the country.
The use of modern surveillance technologies in Serbia underscores the difficult balance between ensuring security and protecting civil rights. Large-scale digital surveillance raises concerns about its impact on privacy and democratic processes. Ongoing protests in Serbia demonstrate citizens' desire for transparency and accountability, but the question of whether such technologies are consistent with the rule of law and justice remains an open question.
FYI
This article was translated from russian to english. If you'll find any mistakes or if you have any suggestions lmk.
August 25, 2000 marked a grim event in Belgrade: the disappearance of Ivan StamboliŃ›, former president of the Socialist Republic of Serbia. His body was found only in 2019, 80 kilometers away from the place of disappearance, and those who ordered the murder escaped punishment. The story became a symbol of the state's failure to provide justice for the victims of the regime.
Years later, the situation in Serbia remains similar. Modern technology has provided the authorities with new tools of control - the Pegasus and Predator spy programs. Civic activists and opposition politicians are increasingly becoming victims of digital surveillance organized by the state through intermediaries. The spying systems allow not only to monitor the actions of oppositionists, but also to put pressure on journalists, judges and activists.
Chinese support for Belgrade's smart cities concept has also played a key role in the creation of the total surveillance system. More than 8,000 cameras with biometric facial recognition have been installed in the capital, which has drawn sharp criticism from human rights activists.
Despite the formal existence of laws regulating the processing of biometric data, actual control remains in the hands of the Serbian Interior Ministry, allowing the technology to be used to circumvent legal restrictions. Huawei, Hikvision and others have supplied surveillance equipment, allowing Beijing to strengthen its influence in the Balkans. The equipment was purchased through dubious schemes, and the data is used to suppress protests and monitor the opposition.
In 2023, the use of spyware was once again in the spotlight. Activists and international organizations confirmed that civil society was under attack through Pegasus programs. Protests related to corruption and the tragedy at the Novi Sad bus station once again exacerbated public discontent. The use of spyware to spy on protesters and journalists was another reason for mass demonstrations that engulfed universities in major cities across the country.
The use of modern surveillance technologies in Serbia underscores the difficult balance between ensuring security and protecting civil rights. Large-scale digital surveillance raises concerns about its impact on privacy and democratic processes. Ongoing protests in Serbia demonstrate citizens' desire for transparency and accountability, but the question of whether such technologies are consistent with the rule of law and justice remains an open question.
FYI
Quote:Pegasus is a malware developed by the Israeli company NSO Group. This software can be secretly installed on cell phones (and other devices) running most versions of iOS and Android. Pegasus is a modular malware. After scanning the target device, it installs the necessary modules to read the user's messages and emails, listen to calls, capture screenshots, log keystrokes, extract browser history, contacts, and so on. All in all, it can spy on every aspect of the victim's life.
Predator spyware is a malware that can hack and track Android and iOS smartphones. It was developed by Cytrox, a company based in Northern Macedonia that sells commercial spyware and other surveillance tools.
Predator can access a victim's contacts, messages, calls, location, photos, videos and other data. The program can also activate the smartphone's microphone and camera to record audio and video. Predator is distributed through phishing emails or through vulnerabilities in browsers and apps.