RUSSIAN security services accessed activist Andrey Pivovarov's iPhone using Cellebrite's tools, despite the company's announcement to cease sales to Russia. Pivovarov was detained in May 2021, and his devices were searched weeks later with the forensic tools, revealing extensive data extraction from apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. The investigation raised concerns over political repression, as there was a pattern of targeting political dissidents using such technology post-contract cancellation.
The situation sheds light on Cellebrite's operational practices, highlighting the risk of its technologies being misused by repressive regimes, despite claims of halting support in Russia.