As surveillance technologies become increasingly sophisticated, the ethical dilemmas surrounding their use in monitoring civil liberties have escalated. A recent report from ZezapTV reveals alarming practices in Morocco, where the government allegedly employs spyware and other invasive tactics to stifle dissent and undermine freedom of expression. In highlighting these troubling developments, the report serves as a crucial reminder of the need for vigilance in protecting human rights in an era defined by technological advancement.
A report from ZezapTV has raised serious concerns about the extensive surveillance practices employed by Morocco’s intelligence agency, which reportedly utilizes spyware, hidden microphones, and pre-infected phones to monitor journalists and human rights defenders. This comprehensive investigation, conducted by Amnesty International, portrays a surveillance apparatus that is both “expansive and vast,” intentionally designed to silence critical voices within the country.
The findings are detailed in the report titled “Inside Morocco’s Surveillance Machine,” which draws on the testimony of a former employee of the Moroccan domestic intelligence service (DGST) and leaked documents coupled with journalistic investigations. Amnesty International emphasizes that Moroccan authorities have faced longstanding accusations of utilizing Pegasus spyware, developed by the Israeli NSO Group, to target journalists and activists.
Despite these allegations, Moroccan officials have consistently denied any claims of using spyware against citizens. Amnesty stated that it had reached out to Moroccan authorities four weeks prior to the report’s release but did not receive a response. Efforts to contact official sources for comments were similarly unfruitful.
According to the report, the DGST has been identified as the principal agency deploying the Pegasus spyware to monitor activists and journalists from 2017 to 2021. Amnesty pointed out that Moroccan authorities have merged advanced technologies, such as Pegasus, with traditional tactics like physical surveillance and wiretapping.
The testimony from the whistleblower reveals disturbing methods, including secret video and audio recordings in various locations, from detention centers to private residences. The report states that phone calls are often covertly monitored and that some retail outlets sell mobile devices pre-loaded with malware created by DGST agents.
Moreover, the whistleblower disclosed that internet cafes were compromised with remote-controlled spyware, and that devices at airports were targeted, highlighting the pervasive nature of the surveillance efforts. Notably, hidden microphones were allegedly found in the apartment of journalist Omar Radi, who has since been imprisoned.
Amnesty’s investigation identified 103 Moroccan phone numbers entered into the Pegasus system between September and December 2017, with a significant portion belonging to civil society members, including 34 human rights defenders and 22 journalists. This underscores a worrying trend, where prominent figures advocating for human rights and journalistic integrity are first on the list of surveillance targets.
The organization further revealed evidence of spyware being distributed via the state-owned Maroc Telecom network and indicated that Morocco procured surveillance tools from vendors located in Israel, the European Union, and the United States. Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard remarked on the country’s embrace of “techno-authoritarian practices,” calling for a cessation of surveillance activities and urging nations to stop exporting spyware to Morocco until adequate human rights protections are established.
The investigation was part of a larger collaborative effort involving 14 media organizations coordinated by Forbidden Stories, underscoring the growing international concern regarding the intersection of technology and human rights in Morocco and beyond.
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