Revelations of a Whistleblower: The Pegasus Spyware's Reach in Morocco
A former intelligence insider from Morocco has shed light on the extensive and alarming use of Pegasus spyware within the nation's surveillance operations. This sophisticated technology, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, enables unauthorized access to mobile devices, allowing operatives to eavesdrop on conversations and manipulate the devices without the user's knowledge. According to the whistleblower, who has chosen to remain anonymous under the alias Safir, the Moroccan authorities have employed this invasive software to surveil journalists, human rights activists, and foreign officials, particularly those from Spain and France. Such revelations highlight a troubling reality regarding privacy rights and governmental overreach in the digital age.
Unmasking the Surveillance Tactics of Morocco's Internal Security Agency
Safir, who dedicated ten years to the Direction Générale de la Surveillance du Territoire (DGST), Morocco's internal security agency, revealed that the deployment of Pegasus began in 2017. Over the next four years, this technology was systematically used against both domestic dissenters and foreign targets. The findings of this investigation have involved collaboration among several prominent news organizations, including _Le Monde_, _Haaretz_, and _El Confidencial_, as well as Amnesty International's Security Lab. Together, they analyzed a plethora of documents—ranging from leaked emails to testimonies from victims, all of which illustrate the extent of Morocco's surveillance practices. The investigation unearthed evidence that officials from Morocco met with NSO representatives in a luxurious villa in 2017, where the spyware was demonstrated, leading to its subsequent adoption by the Moroccan government.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the spyware was utilized not only against civil society activists but also targeted law enforcement officials in Spain and human rights advocates in Morocco and France. This alarming use of technology exemplifies the growing trend of authoritarianism globally, posing significant threats to the safety and privacy of individuals. The case gained further traction when WhatsApp, owned by Meta, took legal action against NSO in 2025, alleging that the company exploited its platform to target users. In light of these incidents, Israel's government reportedly imposed restrictions on the export of Pegasus to Morocco following a ban in 2021, with the Biden administration echoing concerns about NSO's practices contradicting U.S. national security interests. The leaks from Morocco underscore the severe implications of Pegasus spyware, indicating a perilous intersection between state power and individual rights in an increasingly digital landscape.
As reported by thecanary.co.
