Anti-Regime University Student Movement: We’ve Been Targeted by Advanced Spyware

Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade (BETAPHOTO/Sara Nikolic)

At least 14 individuals, including university student members of the IT Blockade group, activists, an MP and a local assembly representative, have been spied on via illegal cell phone surveillance software, the Blockading University Students anti-regime movement announced on Sept. 2.

During the first press conference the movement has held since Serbia’s university students began protesting in 2024, the Blockading University Students explained that both forensic experts and certain international organizations have confirmed the cell phone devices were indeed breached.

“Their cell phones were attacked by one of the most advanced spyware programs available globally. This software is sold only to countries and someone must answer for it,” said Ela Zekovic, a student of the School of Political Science.

Adrijana Ristic of the non-governmental SHARE Foundation, said that her organization determined in early 2026 that at least 14 persons in Serbia were targeted with advanced spyware.

“We can say that the targets were mostly members of the university student movement, activists, and local assembly representatives from opposition parties,” Ristic said, adding that the timeframe of the attacks coincides with the campaign period for the local elections held in March 2026.

Ognjen Rasic, a student of the Nis University School of Philosophy, said that Apple Inc. notified him that his phone was subject to an attempted spyware attack and that similar warnings were received by the members of the university student movement and activists who participated as support staff for the March 2026 elections.

“This [involvement] likely bothered the ruling [Serbian Progressive] party so they were prepared to spend millions to plant spyware on our devices,” Rasic stated.

On Sept. 2, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic rejected the accusations that the state spied on the university students, maintaining that the students’ claims “raise a number of questions and contradictions.”