BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s secret service and police have been spying on journalists and opposition activists by installing a spyware on their mobile phones, Amnesty International said Monday.
The watchdog's report, backed by testimonies of those who claim their phones have been hacked in recent months, says the spy software was used to unlock phones to capture covert screenshots and copy contact lists, which were then uploaded to a government-controlled server.
The report titled “A Digital Prison: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia" said the Serbian police and the Security Information Agency (BIA) used the spyware to infect devices while their owners were detained or interviewed by police.
“Our investigation reveals how Serbian authorities have deployed surveillance technology and digital repression tactics as instruments of wider state control and repression directed against civil society,” said Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for Europe.
Serbia’s police said in a statement that the Amnesty report is “absolutely incorrect,” but also added that "the forensic tool is used in the same way by other police forces around the world.”
Serbia's spy agency said on its website that it “works exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Serbia.”
“Therefore, we are not even able to comment on nonsensical allegations from their (Amnesty) text, just as we do not normally comment on similar content," BIA said.
The Amnesty report comes as President Aleksandar Vucic is facing one of the biggest challenges to more than a decade of his increasingly autocratic rule, with widening anti-government protests that so far have been largely peaceful.
Protests have been led by university students and opposition activists following the collapse last month of a concrete canopy at a railway station in the country’s north that killed 15 people on Nov. 1.
Many in Serbia believe rampant corruption and nepotism among state officials led to sloppy work on the building reconstruction, which was part of a wider railroad project with Chinese state companies.
Vucic has accused Western intelligence services, NGO groups and foreign media of conducting a “hybrid warfare” against him and his country by illegally financing the protests.
The Belgrade Center for Security Policy, an NGO group, strongly condemned the authorities’ misuse of digital technologies for surveillance and demanded an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the allegations reported by Amnesty International. It also called for the prosecution of those responsible within the police and the Security and Information Agency.
“In a country where civil protests are growing in scale, and discontent with the regime is becoming louder, these practices represent a direct attack on fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and the right of association,” the group's statement said.
Serbia, which formally seeks European Union membership, has been forging close ties with Russia and China, including their spy agencies in what officials said was a joint action against the so-called “colored revolutions” —- street protests against repressive regimes.
Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed to this report.
A woman holds a banner that shows Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, reading: "You have blood on your hands!" and stopping traffic, standing in silence to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse five weeks ago, demanding accountability for the tragedy in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People stopping traffic stand in silence to commemorate the 15 victims of a railway roof collapse six weeks ago, demand accountability for the tragedy, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James returned to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in a 116-10 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies after a two-game break.
James is fighting a left foot injury and and was away from the team most of last week because of personal reasons.
James did not play last Sunday against Portland or Friday night at Minnesota. The Lakers announced about 45 minutes before tip-off against Memphis that James' status had been upgraded from questionable to available.
James had 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five turnovers in 34 minutes.
“I felt pretty good,” James said. “It's very rare throughout the course of the season where you can take advantage of the schedule, and I was able to do that the past week.”
The Lakers described James' time away as an excused absence while noting that he's also been managing some left foot pain. Lakers coach JJ Redick revealed before the game with Memphis that he and the four-time NBA MVP met on the day of the Portland game to discuss his plan for a break.
“When I talked to him earlier this week, I think I said something along those lines, just hoping that he was getting a good mind and body reset," Redick said in his pregame availability Sunday. "He said he felt like he was."
James is the NBA's oldest player and turns 40 on Dec. 30. Including playoffs, no player in league history has appeared in more games or played more minutes than James — who is in his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the NBA record.
“I felt my foot, felt my body....I did my pregame workout on that Sunday for the Portland game and decided it was probably best if I took that day off,” James said. “I had the opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and just everything where I wanted to be for tonight, and it worked out.”
Redick indicated that he could appreciate if James felt the need for a few days off.
“I played 15 (years) and was emotionally, mentally, physically drained, fried," Redick said. "I put everything I had into this game. I had nothing left. For guys like him and (Chris Paul), the Tom Brady's of the world, the Roger Federer's of the world, it's hard to comprehend having that level of sustained excellence for so long because of the toll that it takes on all of you, not just your body.”
James said he spent most of his time away rehabbing his foot and training to stay in game shape.
“It was a very easy decision for myself and for the team and for my trainer to be able to take advantage of those days, just for everything,” James said. “It was great.”
James is averaging 23 points, 9.1 assists and eight rebounds this season. He also has seven triple-doubles, second-most in the NBA behind Denver's Nikola Jokic.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks the ball as forward Anthony Davis (3), Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (15), forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13), forward Brandon Clarke (15) and forward Jaylen Wells (0) watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks the ball as forward Anthony Davis (3), Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and forward Jaylen Wells (0) watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a foul against Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) kneels on the court in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
