SERBIA'S LARGEST SPYWARE WAVE TARGETS CIVIL SOCIETY

The infections were discovered in August after Apple alerted users in 110 countries about potential compromise from mercenary spyware. Share Foundation identified the wave as unprecedented in scale for Serbia. Targets included activists and civil society figures, raising concerns about state-sponsored surveillance during a period of heightened political tension. Student-led protests had gained momentum in Serbia earlier in 2024, marking rare large-scale demonstrations against the government. The Serbian government has denied allegations of spying on its citizens. Apple's notification system, which flags users of its devices about state-sponsored threats, helped expose the campaign. The incident underscores growing concerns about mercenary spyware use by governments worldwide. Share Foundation's documentation adds Serbia to a growing list of countries where such tools have targeted dissidents and activists.