Amnesty International Accuses Morocco's Intelligence Service of Widespread Surveillance Targeting Journalists and Activists

Amnesty International has issued a scathing report accusing Morocco's domestic intelligence agency of operating an extensive surveillance apparatus designed to monitor, intimidate, and ultimately silence journalists, human rights defenders, and other critical voices. The report, titled "Inside Morocco's surveillance machine," was published on Thursday and draws on testimony from a former employee of the Moroccan domestic intelligence service, known as the DGST, along with leaked documents and prior journalistic investigations.

According to the rights organization, the surveillance operations are not isolated incidents but form part of a systematic and deliberate strategy to suppress dissent. Amnesty described the apparatus as "expansive and vast," asserting that it is deployed with the explicit aim of silencing those who challenge state authority. The report alleges that Moroccan authorities have combined sophisticated digital tools with more conventional methods of surveillance to monitor targets both online and in their private lives.

The investigation identifies the DGST as the primary body responsible for deploying Pegasus spyware within Morocco. Pegasus is a powerful hacking tool developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, which has been at the center of global surveillance scandals in recent years. Amnesty claims that the DGST used Pegasus against activists and journalists between 2017 and 2021, targeting individuals whose work focused on government accountability and human rights.

Beyond high-tech spyware, the report details a range of traditional surveillance techniques employed alongside digital tools. These include physical tailing, wiretapping, and covert audio and video recording. According to testimony cited by Amnesty, people have been secretly recorded in detention facilities, in their own offices and vehicles, and even inside their bedrooms. The report states that phone calls are systematically intercepted and monitored, and that mobile phones pre-infected with malware are sold in shops by DGST agents, allowing authorities to track users without their knowledge.

The whistleblower who provided testimony for the report also alleged that the agency has infected internet cafes with remote-controlled spyware, compromising public access points used by activists and journalists. Additionally, the source claimed that devices were physically tampered with at airports, enabling authorities to install surveillance software on phones belonging to targeted individuals. In one striking example, the whistleblower said microphones were concealed in the light fixtures of the apartment belonging to journalist Omar Radi, who was subsequently imprisoned.

Amnesty International said its researchers were able to match 103 Moroccan phone numbers entered into the Pegasus system between September and December 2017 to specific individuals. Of these, 65 belonged to members of civil society, including 34 human rights defenders and 22 journalists or media workers. Another 25 numbers were linked to political figures or officials, while five belonged to diplomats or representatives of international organizations. The organization described these findings as evidence that prominent human rights defenders and journalists were among the earliest targets entered into the system.

The report also states that Amnesty found evidence of spyware being delivered over the state-owned Maroc Telecom network. Furthermore, it claims that Morocco has purchased surveillance tools from companies based in Israel, the European Union, and the United States, highlighting the international supply chain that enables such operations. Amnesty's Secretary-General, Agnes Callamard, said the findings demonstrate that Morocco has "wholly embraced techno-authoritarian practices," using advanced technology to entrench control over civil society.

The personal data collected through these surveillance operations is reportedly used to fuel public smear campaigns against activists and human rights defenders. According to Amnesty, the information gathered is not merely stored but actively weaponized to discredit targets and undermine their credibility in the public eye. This dual approach of covert monitoring and public defamation creates a climate of fear that discourages dissent and limits civic space.

Moroccan authorities have consistently denied allegations of spyware use against their own citizens. Amnesty said it wrote to Moroccan officials four weeks before publishing the report but received no response. Al Jazeera could not immediately reach Moroccan officials for comment at the time of publication. The denial aligns with previous statements from Rabat, which has faced years of accusations from NGOs regarding Pegasus use but has maintained that such claims are unfounded.

The report is part of a broader collaborative investigation involving 14 media organizations coordinated by Forbidden Stories, a Paris-based nonprofit that works to continue the work of journalists who have been killed or imprisoned. This collaboration reflects growing international concern over the proliferation of commercial spyware and its use by governments to target journalists, activists, and political opponents. Similar investigations have exposed Pegasus abuse in countries including Mexico, India, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International has called on Moroccan authorities to immediately halt all surveillance activities targeting journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. The organization also urged governments worldwide to suspend spyware exports to Morocco until robust human rights safeguards are implemented. This recommendation highlights the broader regulatory challenge posed by the global spyware industry, which operates in a largely unregulated market where human rights protections are often inadequate.

The allegations against Morocco come amid heightened scrutiny of surveillance practices globally. The Pegasus Project, a 2021 investigation involving dozens of media outlets, revealed that the spyware had been used against heads of state, journalists, and activists in multiple countries. While NSO Group has claimed that its products are intended for use against criminals and terrorists, investigations have repeatedly shown that they are deployed against civil society. The Moroccan case adds to a growing body of evidence documenting the misuse of such tools.

For journalists and activists in Morocco, the report's findings underscore the risks associated with speaking out against the government. The combination of digital surveillance, physical monitoring, and public smear campaigns creates a multifaceted threat that is difficult to evade. The psychological impact of knowing that one's private communications and personal spaces may be compromised can be deeply corrosive, leading to self-censorship and withdrawal from public life.

The international dimension of the allegations raises questions about the responsibility of spyware-exporting nations. Amnesty's findings suggest that companies based in Israel, the European Union, and the United States have supplied tools that have been used to target civilians. This complicates the geopolitical landscape, as these countries often position themselves as champions of human rights and press freedom. The report implicitly challenges them to tighten export controls and hold corporations accountable for the misuse of their products.

Amnesty's call for action extends beyond Morocco's borders. By urging states to halt spyware exports, the organization seeks to create international pressure that could lead to stricter regulations. However, enforcing such measures remains challenging, as the spyware industry is opaque and operates through complex networks of subsidiaries and intermediaries. Meaningful reform would require coordinated international efforts, including robust oversight mechanisms and legal frameworks that prioritize human rights over commercial interests.

As the report circulates, it is likely to intensify debate over Morocco's human rights record and the global proliferation of surveillance technology. For now, the allegations stand as a stark reminder of the power that intelligence agencies wield and the vulnerability of those who challenge them. Whether the report leads to concrete changes in policy or practice remains to be seen, but it has already amplified the voices of those who have long warned about the dangers of unchecked surveillance.