Pro-Palestinian activists had their phones seized, and what investigators found is deeply alarming

Jordanian security authorities have been using an Israeli-made digital extraction tool to pull extensive personal data from the mobile phones of activists and protesters who have spoken out in support of Palestinian causes, including Gaza. The findings emerged through a multiyear investigation into detentions and interrogations of civil society members, as first reported by The Guardian.

Researchers examined four mobile phones seized between January 2024 and June 2025 from individuals detained or questioned by authorities in Jordan. The devices belonged to two political activists, a student organizer, and a human rights defender, and investigators concluded with high confidence that all four had been subjected to forensic extraction using Cellebrite technology.

The analysis found that Jordanian security services gained physical access to the phones and carried out full digital extractions, allowing access to far more than basic communications. The scope of the data retrieved raised concerns among researchers about privacy, surveillance, and the treatment of political dissent.

The seizures point to extensive use of forensic extraction tools

Cellebrite’s extraction tools allow authorities to retrieve photos, videos, chats, documents, saved passwords, location data, Wi-Fi history, browsing history, and social media information from a device. In some cases, the software can also recover data that users attempted to delete, provided officials have physical access to the phone, a risk also raised in the seized reporter’s devices ruling.

The investigation suggests this use of digital forensics may violate human rights treaties Jordan has ratified, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. That agreement places strict limits on surveillance and the targeting of political dissidents and civil society members, alongside broader concerns about government access to personal data like the Musk team data sharing dispute.

Researchers documented several individual cases in detail. In one case, a political activist’s iPhone was seized following an interrogation by Jordan’s General Intelligence Department and held for 35 days before being returned.

Another case involved a student activist who refused to provide their phone passcode. Officers allegedly unlocked the device using Apple’s Face ID by holding the phone to the activist’s face, after which the individual was imprisoned the following day. When the phone was eventually returned, the passcode was written on tape attached to the back, and forensic analysis later showed the device had been connected to external hardware attributed to Cellebrite through a cybercrime unit in Amman.

Cellebrite responded to the findings by stating that its products are forensic tools rather than spyware and are intended to be used only with legal due process or appropriate consent. A company spokesperson said Cellebrite vets customers against internal human rights standards and has previously ended business relationships in jurisdictions deemed incompatible with its values.

The spokesperson added that the company reviews allegations of misuse when credible information is provided and investigates each case in line with its ethics and integrity policies.

Jordanian authorities have not responded to requests for comment. The report also notes that Cellebrite tools have been linked to targeting civil society members in other countries, including Myanmar and Botswana, with indications of use in Serbia and Belarus.