A recent investigation has unveiled alarming evidence regarding Morocco’s deployment of the Pegasus hacking software, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, to surveil a range of targets including journalists, human rights activists, and politicians both domestically and internationally. A whistleblower from within the Moroccan intelligence apparatus has provided critical insights into this sophisticated surveillance operation, raising serious concerns about state-sponsored espionage and human rights violations.
The Whistleblower’s Testimony
The revelations stem from the testimony of an anonymous former member of Morocco’s Direction Générale de la Surveillance du Territoire (DGST), who has come forward under the pseudonym Safir. Over nearly a decade of service, Safir alleges that the DGST began employing Pegasus as early as 2017, initially targeting key domestic figures before expanding its reach to international subjects.
The whistleblower’s account is a cornerstone of a comprehensive investigation led by Moroccan journalist Hicham Mansouri, which has seen collaboration from multiple media outlets, including Le Monde and The Guardian, with technical assistance from Amnesty International. The consortium has sifted through a wealth of evidence, from leaked emails to internal training materials, corroborating the extensive use of Pegasus for nefarious purposes.
The Mechanics of Pegasus
Pegasus is notorious for its capability to infiltrate mobile devices without the user’s knowledge, granting operators access to private communications, photos, and even the ability to activate microphones and cameras remotely. Although NSO Group has maintained that Pegasus is intended solely for legitimate governmental use against criminal activities, the software has been implicated in numerous instances of surveillance against journalists and political dissidents globally.
Safir’s testimony indicates that Moroccan officials were introduced to Pegasus in a lavish 2017 demonstration, where they quickly recognised its potential for remote surveillance—eliminating the need for physical access to targets’ devices. This marked a significant evolution in Morocco’s intelligence-gathering methods, which had previously relied on more traditional human intelligence and less sophisticated spyware.
Targeting Foreign Officials
The investigation highlights that the reach of Pegasus extended beyond Moroccan borders, with significant implications for Spain. Following a contentious diplomatic incident concerning the Polisario Front, a movement seeking independence for Western Sahara, the phones of Spanish officials—including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Defence Minister Margarita Robles—were compromised in mid-2021. This incident coincided with heightened tensions between Madrid and Rabat, suggesting that the spyware was used as a tool of political leverage.
Records indicate that over 200 Spanish numbers were targeted, with multiple Spanish officials being subjected to surveillance. Despite the troubling nature of these revelations, judicial inquiries in Spain have faced obstacles, including a lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities, which has hindered efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
The Broader Implications of Surveillance
The findings also suggest a betrayal of trust between Spain and Morocco, particularly given that the Guardia Civil had previously collaborated with Moroccan intelligence on counter-terrorism efforts. Leaked documents reveal that even members of the Guardia Civil were not immune to surveillance, raising questions about the efficacy of security protocols in place during such collaborations.
As concerns about privacy and surveillance escalate, the investigation’s findings have provoked strong reactions within Spain, particularly from unions representing law enforcement officials who feel betrayed by their Moroccan counterparts. The implications of this surveillance extend beyond diplomatic relations, touching upon fundamental issues of human rights and the protection of civil liberties.
Why it Matters
The exposure of Morocco’s extensive use of Pegasus spyware underscores a troubling trend in modern governance: the increasing reliance on technology for state surveillance at the expense of individual freedoms. As nations grapple with the dual imperatives of security and privacy, the revelations serve as a stark reminder of the potential for abuse inherent in powerful surveillance tools. The ongoing investigation not only calls for accountability from those who misuse such technology but also highlights the need for robust legal frameworks to protect citizens from unwarranted intrusion into their private lives. In an era where digital privacy is paramount, these findings could have far-reaching consequences for international relations and the protection of human rights.