Russia used Israeli firm’s tool to crack phone months after ties severed, report finds
An investigation by Citizen Lab found that Russian authorities used forensic tools from the Israeli firm Cellebrite to access the phone of political prisoner Andrei Pivovarov. This occurred months after the company claimed to have severed its business ties with Russia.
Why it matters
The report raises significant ethical and security questions regarding the proliferation of surveillance technology and the ability of private firms to control the use of their software by foreign governments.
Andrei Pivovarov gestures during a court session in Krasnodar in June 2021. Photograph: AP View image in fullscreen Andrei Pivovarov gestures during a court session in Krasnodar in June 2021. Photograph: AP Russia Russia used Israeli firm’s tool to crack phone months after ties severed, report finds Case of Andrei Pivovarov raises questions about how much control Cellebrite has over its own software
The focus on human rights and the potential misuse of technology by authoritarian regimes aligns with typical investigative journalism priorities.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in