A new report from The Citizen Lab, based at the University of Toronto, says Russian authorities used Cellebrite technology to access the iPhone of opposition figure Andrey Pivovarov while he was in custody, despite the company's earlier claim that it had ended sales to Russia.
The findings highlight a growing challenge for the tech industry: once advanced digital tools are deployed, controlling where they end up and how they are used becomes far more difficult. Cellebrite, which provides phone unlocking and forensic systems to government clients worldwide, said it had stopped serving Russian government customers in March 2021.
According to the report, forensic evidence on Pivovarov's device points to the use of UFED, Cellebrite's phone access platform, after Russian authorities seized his iPhone 12 and MacBook in May 2021. A court document shared with researchers reportedly described the extraction of messages and searches for political terms and opposition-related names.
Researchers and digital rights advocates say the case underscores the need for stronger safeguards, including remote deactivation and traceable device markings, to help ensure that forensic technology is used within clear boundaries. Cellebrite said any legacy use of its hardware in Russia after March 2021 was unauthorized.
As digital investigation tools become more powerful, the debate over accountability and technical safeguards is likely to shape the future of trusted technology deployment.