Amnesty International published a comprehensive report accusing Morocco’s domestic intelligence service (DGST) of operating an extensive surveillance program designed to suppress critical voices including journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. The organization alleged that Moroccan authorities employed sophisticated surveillance tools alongside traditional monitoring methods to track and intimidate dissidents.
The report, titled “Inside Morocco’s surveillance machine,” drew on firsthand testimony from a former DGST employee, leaked government documents, and investigative journalism. According to the findings, the surveillance apparatus combined high-technology solutions such as Pegasus spyware with conventional techniques including physical tailing and telephone wiretapping. The report detailed methods ranging from hidden microphones installed in private spaces to pre-infected mobile devices distributed through retail channels and remote-controlled malware deployed in internet cafes.
Amnesty’s analysis identified the DGST as the agency responsible for deploying Pegasus in Morocco, with evidence indicating its use against civil society figures between 2017 and 2021. The organization matched 103 Moroccan phone numbers entered into the Pegasus system between September and December 2017 to identifiable individuals. Of these, 65 were civil society members—including 34 human rights defenders and 22 journalists—while 25 were political officials and five were diplomats or international organization representatives.
The collected personal information was allegedly weaponized through public smear campaigns targeting activists and defenders. Morocco’s government has consistently denied using spyware against its population. Amnesty stated it provided Moroccan authorities four weeks’ notice before publication but received no response. The investigation was conducted in collaboration with 14 media organizations coordinated by Forbidden Stories, and the report indicated that Morocco acquired surveillance tools from suppliers in Israel, the European Union, and the United States.
Amnesty called for Morocco to cease its surveillance operations and urged international governments to restrict spyware exports to the country pending the establishment of human rights protections.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI