Cellebrite Cuts Off Serbia, But Not Others Accused of Abuse

The phone hacking tool maker has changed its approach to allegations of abuse in Jordan and Kenya.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Cellebrite, a company that makes phone unlocking and hacking tools, stopped selling to Serbian police last year after human rights researchers alleged local authorities used its tools to hack into the phones of a journalist and an activist. However, following similar accusations of abuse in Jordan and Kenya, Cellebrite has dismissed the allegations and declined to investigate further, a change from its previous actions.

Why it matters

Cellebrite's inconsistent response to allegations of abuse raises questions about the company's commitment to addressing the misuse of its powerful tools, which can be used to violate privacy and human rights. As a major supplier of phone hacking technology to law enforcement agencies worldwide, Cellebrite's actions and policies have significant implications for digital privacy and security.

The details

In the Serbia case, Cellebrite cited an Amnesty International report alleging abuse as the reason for suspending sales. But when faced with similar allegations in Jordan and Kenya from the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, the company dismissed the evidence as "speculation" and declined to investigate further. Cellebrite has previously cut off relationships with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Russia, and Belarus over abuse concerns, but its response to the new allegations appears to be a departure from its previous approach.

  • In 2025, Cellebrite suspended sales to Serbian police after human rights researchers alleged abuse.
  • In January 2026, the Citizen Lab accused the Jordanian government of using Cellebrite's tools to break into the phones of local activists and protesters.
  • In February 2026, the Citizen Lab published a report alleging the Kenyan government used Cellebrite's tools to unlock the phone of a local activist and politician while he was in police custody.

The players

Cellebrite

An Israeli-headquartered company that makes phone unlocking and hacking tools used by law enforcement agencies around the world.

Amnesty International

A global human rights organization that published a report alleging abuse of Cellebrite's tools by Serbian authorities.

Citizen Lab

A research group at the University of Toronto that has investigated abuses of spyware and hacking technologies, including Cellebrite's tools in Jordan and Kenya.

Boniface Mwangi

A local activist and politician in Kenya whose phone was allegedly unlocked by Kenyan authorities using Cellebrite's tools.

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What they’re saying

“We do not respond to speculation and encourage any organization with specific, evidence-based concerns to share them with us directly so we can act on them.”

— Victor Cooper, Spokesperson, Cellebrite (TechCrunch)

“We urge Cellebrite to release the specific criteria they used to approve sales to Kenyan authorities, and disclose how many licenses have been revoked in the past. If Cellebrite is serious about their rigorous vetting, they should have no problem making it public.”

— John Scott-Railton, Researcher, Citizen Lab (TechCrunch)

The takeaway

Cellebrite's inconsistent response to allegations of abuse raises concerns about the company's commitment to addressing the misuse of its powerful phone hacking tools. As a major supplier to law enforcement worldwide, Cellebrite's actions and policies have significant implications for digital privacy and security that deserve greater transparency and accountability.