New research from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab reveals that Kenyan authorities used Cellebrite’s commercial forensic extraction tool to access a prominent activist’s phone while in police custody. This incident highlights ongoing misuse of surveillance technology against civil society groups and dissidents.
The findings demonstrate how law enforcement agencies are employing sophisticated digital forensics tools in ways that potentially violate privacy rights and target political opponents. This case adds to growing concerns about the global proliferation and abuse of such technologies by state actors.
Key Takeaways
- Kenyan authorities used Cellebrite forensic tools on activist’s phone in custody
- Commercial surveillance technology being misused against civil society
- Growing pattern of state actors targeting dissidents with digital forensics
- Citizen Lab continues to document abuse of surveillance technologies
Threat Actors
Kenyan authorities
Source: The Hacker News
