Investigation Reveals €69 Million in European Police Contracts for Cellebrite Phone Forensics Tools

A new investigation has revealed that European authorities have awarded more than €69 million in public contracts for Cellebrite mobile phone extraction technology since 2023, raising questions about the use and oversight of digital forensic tools in criminal investigations.

The findings were published on November 3 by Statewatch, an independent civil liberties research organization, following a months-long investigation into the procurement and deployment of mobile device extraction systems across Europe.

Cellebrite develops forensic technology used by law enforcement agencies to extract and examine information from smartphones and other digital devices. Depending on the device, software version, security protections, and available access, such tools may recover messages, photographs, application records, and other potentially relevant evidence.

Statewatch identified more than 150 public contracts involving Cellebrite technology, including purchases supported by European Union funding.

The investigation also examined the use of these systems in cases involving journalists, activists, and other individuals, highlighting concerns about privacy protections and the potential misuse of forensic capabilities.

Mobile device forensics has become an important part of criminal investigations because smartphones can contain extensive records of communications, locations, and digital activity.

However, obtaining information from a device raises questions beyond technical extraction capabilities.

Investigators must establish lawful authority, document their examination methods, preserve evidence integrity, and distinguish relevant material from unrelated personal information.

The report does not establish that every identified contract involved improper surveillance. Purchasing forensic technology is also not evidence of unlawful use.

Nevertheless, the findings highlight the importance of independent oversight, transparent procurement, and proportionate examination practices as increasingly powerful mobile forensic tools become embedded in law enforcement operations.