Jordan Government’s Use of Cellebrite Forensics Tools Targets Activists in 2024
Between late 2023 and mid-2024, Jordanian authorities used Cellebrite’s digital forensic technology to access and extract data from the mobile phones of local activists and human rights defenders. According to an investigation by Citizen Lab and OCCRP, authorities seized activists’ devices—three iPhones and one Android—and subjected them to Cellebrite’s phone-cracking tools, often in connection with political protests. Court records and forensic analysis confirmed the use of Cellebrite products to nonconsensually access information, shaking victims’ trust and prompting self-censorship. This incident underscores the growing risks of commercial digital forensics tools being repurposed for surveillance beyond criminal cases. Amnesty International and other watchdogs report a broader trend of such technologies being leveraged against civil society, signaling a need for stronger governance, vendor accountability, and compliance oversight globally.
Kill Chain