Moroccan Intelligence Agency Faces Serious Allegations of Surveillance
Morocco's domestic intelligence agency, known as the Direction Générale de la Surveillance du Territoire (DGST), is facing grave accusations of conducting widespread surveillance on journalists and human rights activists through the deployment of advanced spyware, specifically Israel's Pegasus technology, and covert surveillance methods. A recent report by Amnesty International highlights these alarming practices, detailing how the DGST has allegedly utilized Pegasus spyware to infiltrate mobile devices, thereby granting access to sensitive information, including messages, photographs, and location data.
This disturbing revelation indicates that the Moroccan government has not only resorted to digital espionage but has also engaged in physical surveillance tactics. Reports suggest that surveillance cameras have been installed in private residences, and unauthorized interception of telephone communications has become a systematic operation. The evidence presented in the Amnesty report is based on testimonies from former employees of the DGST, digital forensic analysis, and internal documents from various surveillance technology firms, including the notorious NSO Group.
Despite these allegations, Moroccan authorities have consistently denied any involvement with Pegasus spyware, asserting their commitment to respecting the confidentiality of private communications. However, the testimony from a whistleblower, who has been identified only as "Safir," paints a picture of an extensive intelligence operation that employs both sophisticated remote hacking techniques and more traditional methods requiring direct access to potential targets. Safir has revealed that journalists and activists have been monitored in various settings, including during detention, in their homes, and even in intimate spaces, further underscoring the invasive nature of these surveillance efforts.
Evidence of Systematic Surveillance and Its Implications
Amnesty International's investigation further reveals that the DGST has facilitated these surveillance operations through partnerships with telecommunications providers and second-hand phone retailers. This collaboration has allowed agents to distribute seemingly new devices that were already compromised, providing the authorities access to private communications from the outset. The report highlights that the DGST's operations have relied on cooperation from at least one Moroccan telecommunications company, utilizing tactics such as "network injection" to redirect targeted devices towards spyware infrastructure while connected to the Maroc Telecom network.
Since September 2017, the DGST's use of Pegasus has reportedly intensified, with internal documents indicating that 103 Moroccan phone numbers associated with human rights activists, journalists, lawyers, and academics were compromised during this period. The findings emphasize that civil society figures were among the primary targets of these intrusive surveillance techniques, raising significant concerns regarding the implications for free expression and human rights in Morocco. Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the DGST's activities and has urged the suspension of exports of surveillance technology to Morocco until adequate safeguards are implemented to protect civil liberties.
As reported by rfi.fr.
