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.