Serbian Civil Society Under Surveillance
· side-hustles
Spyware and Statecraft: Serbia’s Surveillance State Under Scrutiny
The recent revelations about the use of advanced spyware against 14 members of Serbian civil society should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the country’s trajectory under Aleksandar Vučić. The largest documented wave of surveillance in Serbia to date, according to digital rights group Share Foundation, has been unfolding quietly over the past few months.
The use of Pegasus, developed by NSO Group, against students who have been vocal critics of Vučić’s government since 2024 is a stark reminder of the state’s willingness to deploy mercenary spyware to silence dissent. This wave of infections coincided with March’s local elections and may be seen as a “practice run” for snap elections in October.
The timing is particularly concerning, suggesting that Vučić’s government is experimenting with new ways to exert control over citizens using technology to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Share Foundation’s Andrijana Ristic noted the obvious implication: “The local elections were basically used as a test for the ruling party to see [the spyware’s] strengths, but also to see the amount of pressure they are able to exert over the students and the opposition.”
NSO Group’s attempts to rebrand itself as an “ethical spyware company” only add to the complexity of this story. With its history tied to Israeli military interests and now under US ownership, NSO Group seems to be navigating a delicate balance between serving authoritarian regimes and appeasing Western investors.
The use of spyware in Serbia prompts us to revisit the notion of “democracy promotion” as practiced by Western powers. Have we been complicit in enabling these very same surveillance states that we claim to support? How have our investments in companies like NSO Group contributed to the proliferation of mercenary spyware?
Milica Popović, one of the targeted students, responded to the attacks with courage and conviction: “If their intention was to frighten us, or make us stop, it will not work.” Her determination is a testament to the resilience of civil society in Serbia.
The use of spyware against citizens is only one symptom of a broader disease – the hollowing-out of institutions and the consolidation of power under Vučić. This has created an environment ripe for abuse. We must demand accountability from those responsible and examine our own roles in perpetuating these dynamics.
In the shadows of this surveillance state, there lies a fundamental question: What does it mean to be a democratic society when even the most basic rights are being eroded? The people of Serbia will not be silenced – they have already demonstrated their resolve.
Reader Views
- RHRiley H. · indie hacker
The NSO Group's Pegasus spyware is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Serbia's surveillance state. What's more concerning is that Western investors are essentially backing a company with ties to Israeli military interests and human rights abuses. This raises questions about our own culpability in enabling these regimes. We need to look beyond simplistic notions of "democracy promotion" and consider how our investments and policies contribute to the very authoritarianism we claim to combat.
- THThe Hustle Desk · editorial
The Vučić government's reliance on mercenary spyware like Pegasus is less about statecraft and more about avoiding actual democratic reforms. By outsourcing surveillance to NSO Group, Belgrade can maintain a veneer of legitimacy while silencing opposition. The real concern here isn't just the tech itself, but how Western investors are now profiteering from the same authoritarian regimes they claim to support. We should be scrutinizing not just Vučić's regime, but also the enablers in Tel Aviv and Washington who have made NSO Group a symbol of their "democracy promotion" paradox.
- MLMei L. · etsy seller
The use of Pegasus in Serbia raises serious questions about the complicity of Western investors in propping up authoritarian regimes. But let's not forget that this is also a story about the normalization of state surveillance through private tech companies like NSO Group. We should be equally concerned with how these spyware exports create lucrative opportunities for corrupt government officials and unscrupulous businessmen to profit from the erosion of civil liberties.