"Authorities in Jordan appear to be using an Israeli digital tool to extract information from the mobile phones of activists and protesters who have been critical of Israel and spoken out in support of Gaza, according to a new report by the Citizen Lab. A multiyear investigation found with high confidence that Jordanian security authorities have been using forensic extraction tools made by Cellebrite against members of civil society, including two political activists, a student organizer, and a human rights defender, the researchers said."
"The Citizen Lab, which investigates digital threats against civil society, said its forensic investigation of devices that were previously seized by authorities in Jordan, as well as court records shared with researchers, indicate that the use of Cellebrite by authorities likely violated human rights treaties Jordan has ratified. Under the international covenant on civil and political rights (ICCPR), Jordan is required to comply with strict limits on the targeting of political dissidents and civil society with surveillance technology."
Investigators found with high confidence that Jordanian security authorities used Cellebrite forensic extraction tools to access data from members of civil society, including political activists, a student organizer, and a human rights defender. Four mobile phones seized between January 2024 and June 2025 were analyzed and all showed evidence of forensic extraction. The tool can extract photos, videos, chats, files, saved passwords, location and wifi histories, phone usage records, web history, social media accounts, and some deleted data. Court records and device examinations indicate this use likely contravenes Jordan's obligations under the ICCPR. Targeted individuals' names were withheld for safety.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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