Vucic regime spyware — A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Joe Wilson, has sharply criticized the Serbian government, calling its alleged use of invasive spyware against citizens unacceptable. Wilson, described as a Republican close to Donald Trump, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the technology is being ‘weaponized against a free people demanding the rule of law.’ This condemnation follows reports from organizations like SHARE Foundation, Citizen Lab, and Amnesty International confirming that at least 14 individuals in Serbia, including students and activists, have been targeted by advanced spyware this year.

Wilson’s remarks are significant as he recently co-introduced the SERBIA Act with Democrat William Keating. This proposed legislation calls for U.S. pressure on Belgrade, citing democratic backsliding, suppression of protests, and cooperation with Russia, China, and Iran. The bill also proposes visa bans and sanctions against individuals undermining regional stability.

The timing of Wilson’s statement, coinciding with international media coverage of the spyware allegations, links the accusations directly to the legislative push in Congress. Reports indicate that at least one phone was infected with Pegasus spyware from Israel’s NSO Group, and two others showed signs of Novispy, software previously linked to Serbian police. While major international outlets like Reuters, the Financial Times, and Bloomberg have reported on the issue, the government in Belgrade has remained silent.

For Aleksandar Vučić, this situation complicates efforts to present Serbia as a stable partner to the new U.S. administration. The accusations of using totalitarian technology against its own citizens, amplified by a congressman aligned with Trump, threaten to undermine Belgrade’s attempts to foster closer ties and could provide further justification for the sanctions outlined in the SERBIA Act.