Sourced fact
The News
Amnesty International released a report condemning Morocco's intelligence agency for using spyware and modern technologies to monitor and track journalists and human rights activists. According to the report published by the organization, Morocco's internal intelligence service (DGST) used the Pegasus spyware to surveil activists and journalists between 2017 and 2021. The organization stated that it received unhelpful responses from Moroccan authorities after sending official correspondence four weeks prior to the report's release.
The report highlights that Morocco's intelligence agency employs advanced technologies like the Pegasus spyware along with traditional methods such as espionage and eavesdropping. It is mentioned that mobile devices are sold pre-infected with malware by elements within the intelligence apparatus. Additionally, the whistleblower indicated that the intelligence service implanted spyware in internet cafes, which is considered a serious violation of privacy.
Donnacha O’Buachalla, director of the Security Lab at Amnesty International, stated: "Records show that the phone numbers of human rights activists and journalists were among the first to be registered in the Pegasus system." The report documented 103 Moroccan phone numbers in the Pegasus system between September and December 2017, of which 65 belonged to members of civil society, including 34 human rights defenders and 22 journalists and media workers.
The organization noted that Morocco has utilized surveillance tools from companies in Israel, the European Union, and the United States. It called on Morocco to end surveillance operations and urged countries to suspend the export of surveillance tools to Morocco until human rights safeguards are put in place.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, this report sheds light on the increasing use of advanced surveillance technologies by governments to curb activists and journalists. These technologies enable governments to gather sensitive information and effectively suppress dissenting voices. The report also points out that Morocco is not the only country using these technologies, as many nations purchase surveillance tools from companies in Israel, the European Union, and the United States. In a broader context, this report raises concerns about the protection of human rights in the age of advanced technology. The report calls on countries to suspend the export of surveillance tools to Morocco until human rights guarantees are established.
