NZZ Documentary Film: Spyware Against Freedom

07 Aug NZZ Documentary Film: Spyware Against Freedom

A recently released documentary features Milena Berić, executive director of the KROKODIL association — who is herself a surveillance target — in a film about eavesdropping and surveillance through spyware technology. The film was produced by Neue Zürcher Zeitung, one of the oldest and most respected media houses in the German-speaking world.

Spyware is a technology aimed to be used in the fight against crime, but it is often abused against journalists, activists, and anyone whose work does not fit dominant state policies. Because of opposing nationalism and violence, and for supporting Ukraine, KROKODIL is constantly targeted by hooligan and far-right groups. After one of the attacks, Milena reported it to the police — who used the opportunity to install spyware on her phone.

By installing spyware, the state gains access to all information and activities on the target’s smartphone — personal photos, conversations, contacts, as well as the person’s continuous location. This is a clear violation of human rights to privacy and security.

Besides Milena, the film also tells the story of Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrini. Unfortunately, they are not the only cases of this kind of eavesdropping. Organizations like Amnesty International and the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto increasingly uncover similar cases in Europe. Spyware poses a serious threat to democracy, and experts predict its use will become more frequent, leading to a so-called “surveillance tsunami.” It is important that we become familiar with this phenomenon if we want to fight for and preserve a free and politically plural community.

The film’s authors are Magdalena Jöchler and Benjamin Breitegger.

You can watch the film on this link: https://www.nzz.ch/video/format/vom-staat-gehackt-wenn-das-eigene-smartphone-zum-spion-wird-ld.10018073, The documentary will soon be available with English subtitles on YouTube.