Salkić warns about Palantir software: BiH is not protected, could become a testing ground for digital espionage

(Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina lacks adequate protection mechanisms against the introduction of foreign surveillance software, which, according to the warning of Hadžib Salkić, a forensic expert and court witness in the field of digital evidence, could open the door to political abuses, secret citizen surveillance, and endanger the digital sovereignty of the state.

Salkić explained that the software of the American company Palantir, which uses artificial intelligence to connect personal, communication, and behavioral data of citizens, is already used in several German states and has caused constitutional lawsuits and protests from privacy advocates.

As he further warned, its ability to "build a digital profile of a person in seconds without their knowledge represents a serious risk to human rights and democratic oversight".

He emphasized that the experience from Germany should be a "lesson for BiH", because the country lacks mechanisms that would prevent the introduction of such systems without public debate and institutional oversight.

Risks for BiH: Political and ethnic abuses

"Due to the complex structure of security and information systems in BiH, there is a real fear that similar tools could be used for illegal surveillance of citizens, including politically, ethnically, or financially motivated abuses," Salkić stated.

He added that BiH lacks adequate protection against the import of sophisticated surveillance tools, which could be introduced through "foreign donations, projects, or non-transparent procurements", thereby endangering not only privacy but also the digital sovereignty of the state.

Salkić proposes three key steps:

Adopting a law prohibiting the use of foreign surveillance software without parliamentary oversight, Strengthening the BiH Personal Data Protection Agency as an independent regulator, Developing domestic or European software solutions under full state control.

"If we do not act now, BiH could become a testing ground for foreign surveillance systems. Citizens' digital security is a matter of sovereignty, not just technology," Salkić said, among other things.