Cellebrite said it cut off Russia, but Russia used its tools anyway
Cellebrite claimed it stopped providing its phone-unlocking technology to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, but newly leaked documents show Russian agencies continued using the tools for years, raising questions about the company's oversight and compliance controls.
Background
- Cellebrite is an Israeli digital forensics company best known for making tools that can unlock and extract data from locked smartphones. Its products are used by police and intelligence agencies worldwide.
- After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Cellebrite publicly stated it would halt all business in Russia and comply with international sanctions.
- This investigation reveals that Russian law enforcement and security agencies continued to use Cellebrite's tools well after the announced cutoff — likely through resellers or gray-market intermediaries, raising questions about how effectively tech companies can enforce such bans.
- The story matters because it highlights a recurring pattern: even when Western tech companies pledge to cut off authoritarian regimes, enforcement is porous, and the tools often keep flowing through indirect channels.