What's happened
Amnesty International has published a report alleging Morocco uses a broad surveillance toolkit to silence journalists and rights defenders, blending Pegasus spyware with traditional methods. The findings draw on a whistleblower from DGST, leaked data and investigations across 14 media partners.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Morocco has repeatedly denied spying on citizens, but Amnesty’s evidence shows a coordinated surveillance system targeting dissent.
- The report links biometric and device-level compromises to state actors, suggesting a pervasive environment of fear for activists and journalists.
- The international supply chain (Israel, EU, US) is implicated, raising questions about arms-length accountability.
- Readers should scrutinize how digital tools intersect with entrenched political power and what safeguards exist for privacy and free expression.
- Forecast: more investigations and potential regulatory scrutiny from international bodies could follow, pressuring Morocco to justify or curb surveillance practices.
How we got here
Amnesty International’s report compiles whistleblower testimony, leaked data and investigative material to detail Morocco’s use of both digital and physical surveillance tools. It identifies the DGST as the operator of Pegasus in Morocco and notes purchases from international vendors, highlighting a techno-authoritarian shift that authorities deny.
Our analysis
Amnesty International’s report details the DGST’s role and cites a whistleblower and forensic evidence. Al Jazeera reports on the same findings, including statements from Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard. The New Arab and All Africa provide additional context and quotes from Amnesty. Bloomberg highlights the alleged use of NSO Group software. Direct quotes reinforce the gravity of allegations across outlets.
Go deeper
- What evidence most strongly links the DGST to Pegasus deployments?
- How might international vendors be held accountable for supplying surveillance tech?
- What protections exist for Moroccan activists and journalists moving forward?
More on these topics
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Morocco - Country in North Africa
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, with land borders with Algeria to the east and Western Sahara to th
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NSO Group - Surveillance company
NSO Group Technologies is an Israeli technology firm whose spyware called Pegasus enables the remote surveillance of smartphones. It was founded in 2010 by Niv Carmi, Omri Lavie, and Shalev Hulio. It employed almost 500 people as of 2017, and is based in
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Amnesty International - Non-governmental organization
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization with its headquarters in the United Kingdom focused on human rights. The organization says it has more than eight million members and supporters around the world.
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Israel - Country in the Middle East
Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Forbidden Stories - Non-profit organization
Forbidden Stories is a non-profit organization with the mission "to continue and publish the work of other journalists facing threats, prison, or murder."
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Omar Radi - Moroccan journalist
Omar Radi is a Moroccan investigative journalist and human rights activist. He has worked at Lakome, Atlantic Radio, Media 24, TelQuel and Le Desk focusing on investigations about human rights, corruption and social movements.
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Pegasus - Software
Pegasus is a spyware developed by the Israeli cyberarms firm NSO Group that can be covertly installed on mobile phones running most versions of iOS and Android.