Amnesty International has accused Morocco’s domestic intelligence service (DGST) of employing a sophisticated surveillance apparatus, including spyware, hidden microphones, and pre-infected phones, to unlawfully monitor and ultimately silence journalists, activists, and other critical voices. The human rights organization detailed these findings in a report published on Thursday, titled "Inside Morocco’s surveillance machine."

The report is based on information provided by a former employee of the DGST, alongside leaked documents and separate journalistic investigations. For years, NGOs have pointed to Morocco’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, to target journalists, activists, and political figures. While Rabat has consistently denied these accusations, Amnesty International stated that it had not received a response from Moroccan authorities after reaching out four weeks prior to the report's publication.

Amnesty identified the DGST as the entity responsible for deploying Pegasus in Morocco, alleging its use against activists and journalists between 2017 and 2021. The organization highlighted that Moroccan authorities combined advanced digital tools like Pegasus with traditional surveillance methods such as tailing and wiretapping. According to the report, individuals were secretly filmed and recorded in detention facilities, their offices, vehicles, and even their homes, with phone calls systematically monitored.

The implications of such widespread surveillance are significant, potentially chilling freedom of expression and hindering the work of journalists and human rights defenders. The collected personal data, according to Amnesty, is allegedly used to fuel public smear campaigns against targeted individuals, further silencing dissent and undermining their credibility.

The whistleblower's testimony described further intrusive methods, including the infection of internet cafes with remote-controlled spyware and the physical compromising of devices at airports. The report specifically mentioned hidden microphones found in the apartment of journalist Omar Radi, who was subsequently imprisoned. This combination of high-tech and physical intrusion paints a picture of a pervasive surveillance network.

Amnesty International reported matching 103 Moroccan phone numbers entered into the Pegasus system between September and December 2017 to specific individuals. The data revealed that a significant portion of these targets were members of civil society, with 34 identified as human rights defenders and 22 as journalists or media workers. Additionally, 25 numbers belonged to political figures or officials, and five to diplomats or representatives of international organizations, indicating a broad scope of surveillance.

The report suggests that the DGST’s methods extend beyond just digital monitoring. The alleged practice of selling mobile phones pre-infected with malware by DGST agents means that individuals could unknowingly become targets simply by acquiring a new device. This tactic bypasses many conventional security measures individuals might employ.

The findings by Amnesty International raise serious questions about the Moroccan government's respect for privacy and freedom of the press. The alleged use of such extensive surveillance tools to suppress critical voices, as detailed in the report, could have far-reaching consequences for human rights and democratic discourse both within Morocco and in its international relations.