Russia uses Cellebrite to break into human rights activist\u2019s phone, even after cancellation of contract | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"A Citizen Lab report reveals Russian authorities used Cellebrite technology to hack an activist's phone, despite the company cutting ties with Moscow.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russia-cellebrite-activist-phone-hacking\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Russia uses Cellebrite to break into human rights activist\u2019s phone, even after cancellation of contract\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A Citizen Lab report reveals Russian authorities used Cellebrite technology to hack an activist's phone, despite the company cutting ties with Moscow.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russia-cellebrite-activist-phone-hacking\/\"> <meta 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class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"35.580135440181\">\n<p> The phone-cracking firm broke off from its deal with Russia, but Citizen Lab said that didn\u2019t stop authorities from surveilling Andrey Pivovarov. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/89562\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-5.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> In this photo illustration, the Cellebrite logo is displayed on the screen of a tablet. (Photo Illustration by Sheldon Cooper\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"25.091397849462\"><body readability=\"51.349260523322\"><\/p>\n<p>Russian authorities used Cellebrite phone-cracking technology to break into a device belonging to a prominent domestic human rights activist they arrested and imprisoned, despite the company canceling its contract with the Russian government, according to a report published Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The University of Toronto\u2019s Citizen Lab <a href=\"https:\/\/citizenlab.ca\/research\/russia-breaks-into-human-rights-activists-phone-with-cellebrite\/\">reached its conclusions<\/a> after analyzing a phone belonging to Andrey Pivovarov and examining court documents he provided confirming the usage of Cellebrite\u2019s UFED product.<\/p>\n<p>Pivovarov was arrested in March 2021, sentenced in 2022 and released in 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange. Citizen Lab found evidence that authorities accessed his phone around June 2021 while the phone was in Russian government hands.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators also said it appears Russian authorities might have used information it got from Pivoarov\u2019s phone to surveil other regime opponents, combining information in the court documents with the later targeting of fellow dissident Anastasiya Burakova in a hacking campaign linked to Russia\u2019s Federal Security Service (FSB).<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe historic architecture of Cellebrite forensic systems means that much of the functionality in the UFED product has continued to operate long after updates cease,\u201d Citizen Lab said in its report. \u201cFurthermore, Cellebrite systems have historically featured an offline mode. Consequently, the way Cellebrite\u2019s technology was designed appeared to make it difficult for the company to meaningfully cut off problematic customers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile Cellebrite has argued that its cancellations in Russia \u2026 went beyond what was legally required, this investigation contributes evidence that the contract cancellation did not immediately block Russia from leveraging Cellebrite\u2019s tools for political persecution,\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n<p>Cellebrite provided <a href=\"https:\/\/citizenlab.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Response-Requested-The-Citizen-Lab-Allegations-about-Cellebrite-.pdf\">a response<\/a> to Citizen Lab\u2019s report, saying that Cellebrite\u2019s technology would be ineffective in Russia today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny use of legacy Cellebrite hardware in Russia after March 2021 is entirely unauthorized,\u201d Cellebrite spokesperson Victor Cooper told CyberScoop, echoing the Citizen Lab response. \u201cThe Cellebrite hardware previously sold, prior to March 2021, would now be incompatible with modern devices and would operate without our technical support, our consent or any legal sanction from Cellebrite. Rapid technology advances render legacy digital forensic hardware and software ineffective within a short period of time. Russia remains permanently on our restricted-customer list.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<div class=\"popular-stories__stories\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__cards\">\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \" readability=\"22.053082191781\">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/citizen-lab-kenya-cellebrite-phone-cracking-boniface-mwangi-forensic-evidence\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"506\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-2.jpg?resize=506%2C337&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-md size-ratio-16-9-md wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-6.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi appears before the Kahawa law court in Nairobi on July 21, 2025. Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi was released on July 21, 2025 charged with illegal possession of ammunition, after the state decided not to bring terrorism charges following a wave of condemnation. (Photo by SIMON MAINA \/ AFP) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\" readability=\"1.7594936708861\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/citizen-lab-kenya-cellebrite-phone-cracking-boniface-mwangi-forensic-evidence\/\"> Citizen Lab links Cellebrite to the hacking of a Kenyan presidential candidate\u2019s phone <\/a> <\/h3>\n<p> The research lab says forensic evidence suggests the phone-cracking technology was used against Boniface Mwangi after his July arrest. <\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/tim-starkscyberscoop-com\/\"> Tim Starks <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/researchers-find-jordan-government-used-cellebrite-phone-cracking-tech-against-activists\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-3.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-7.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Jordanians wave the national flag and shout anti displacing Palestinian slogans during a protest over U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s remarks on Gaza on Feb. 7, 2025 in Amman, Jordan. The protest followed recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. would \u201ctake over\u201d and \u201cown\u201d Gaza after the end of the current war between Hamas and Israel, and that Palestinians in Gaza would leave for neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt. (Photo by Jordan Pix\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/researchers-find-jordan-government-used-cellebrite-phone-cracking-tech-against-activists\/\"> Researchers find Jordan government used Cellebrite phone-cracking tech against activists <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/tim-starkscyberscoop-com\/\"> Tim Starks <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/amnesty-international-exposes-serbian-polices-use-of-spyware-on-journalists-activists\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-4.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract-8.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Students, behind a banner reading \u201c15 minutes for 15 lives,\u201d block a street in Belgrade on Dec. 12, standing in silence to honor the 15 victims of the tragedy that occurred at the railway station in Novi Sad in November. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC \/ AFP) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/amnesty-international-exposes-serbian-polices-use-of-spyware-on-journalists-activists\/\"> Amnesty International exposes Serbian police\u2019s use of spyware on journalists, activists <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/tim-starkscyberscoop-com\/\"> Tim Starks <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/russia-cellebrite-activist-phone-hacking\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russia uses Cellebrite to break into human rights activist\u2019s phone,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3316,2045,302,2473,268,270,310],"tags":[3322,2050,306,2477,274,276,311],"class_list":["post-8772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cellebrite","category-citizen-lab","category-geopolitics","category-human-rights","category-privacy","category-russia","category-technology","tag-cellebrite","tag-citizen-lab","tag-geopolitics","tag-human-rights","tag-privacy","tag-russia","tag-technology"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cellebrite\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cellebrite<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/citizen-lab\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Citizen Lab<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/geopolitics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Geopolitics<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/human-rights\/\" rel=\"category tag\">human rights<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/privacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Privacy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/russia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Russia<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/technology\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Technology<\/a>","tag_info":"Technology","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8772\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":8772,"date":"2026-06-25T09:52:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=89562"},"modified":"2026-06-25T09:52:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:52:06","slug":"russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/06\/25\/russia-uses-cellebrite-to-break-into-human-rights-activists-phone-even-after-cancellation-of-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia uses Cellebrite to break into human rights activist\u2019s phone, even after cancellation of contract"},"content":{"rendered":"