Full Breakdown
Morocco’s Intelligence Agency Accused of Widespread Spyware Surveillance
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Findings of the Amnesty Report
Amnesty International released a report titled *Inside Morocco’s surveillance machine* that alleges the domestic intelligence service (DGST) deployed the Pegasus spyware, hidden microphones and pre-infected mobile phones to monitor journalists, human-rights defenders and other critics. The investigation draws on testimony from a former DGST employee, leaked documents and prior journalistic work. According to the report, the agency combined “high-tech tools” such as Pegasus with traditional methods like tailing, wiretapping and physical device compromise at airports and internet cafés. The surveillance is said to have extended to recording conversations in detention, offices, cars and even bedrooms.
Data & Statistics
- Between September and December 2017, 103 Moroccan phone numbers were entered into the Pegasus system.
- Of those, 65 belonged to civil-society actors, including 34 human-rights defenders and 22 journalists.
- The remaining entries comprised 25 political figures or officials and five diplomats or representatives of international organisations.
Official Statements & Responses
Amnesty’s Security Lab head, Donncha O Cearbhaill, highlighted the early targeting of journalists and activists in the Pegasus database. Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard called for an immediate halt to the surveillance and urged states to suspend spyware exports to Morocco until robust human-rights safeguards are in place.
Moroccan authorities have repeatedly denied using spyware against citizens. Amnesty notes that it wrote to the government four weeks before the report’s publication and received no reply, and Al Jazeera was unable to secure comment from officials at the time of reporting.
Why It Matters
The alleged programme illustrates a “techno-authoritarian” approach that could chill free expression and civil-society activity in Morocco. By gathering personal data and allegedly feeding it into public smear campaigns, the surveillance network threatens the safety of journalists and activists and raises broader concerns about the export and use of commercial spyware in the region.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These records show the phone numbers of prominent human rights defenders and journalists were among the first to be entered into the Pegasus system,” — Donncha
- “Morocco has wholly embraced techno-authoritarian practices,” — Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard