A new report by Amnesty International revealed the details of an extensive system of digital surveillance in Morocco, speaking about the use of advanced spying techniques, including the “Pegasus” program, to target journalists, activists and human rights defenders, amid accusations of persecution and defamation targeting some of those targeted.
The organization explained, in a report entitled “We Begin with Governance: At the Heart of the Moroccan Surveillance Machine,” which it published yesterday, Thursday, that the surveillance system depends on collecting data, hacking phones, and tracking communications and locations, in addition to other means, noting a pivotal role for the General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance in these operations, according to the results of its investigation.
#Morocco: The authorities in Morocco operate a massive and widespread surveillance system, combining digital and traditional tools to track, monitor, and ultimately silence journalists, activists, and other critics.
The report “We Start with Governance: At the Heart of the Moroccan Surveillance System” reveals how the authorities use…
— Amnesty International (@AmnestyAR) October 1, 2026
The report, based on digital forensic analyses, interviews with targeted individuals, and the testimony of a former member of the Moroccan intelligence services, documented the use of the “Pegasus” spyware against targets inside Morocco, including Sahrawi defenders.
The organization said that its analyzes document the use of the program between 2017 and 2021, and perhaps after that, despite official Moroccan denials.
..This is how the hacking was done
Amnesty International pointed out that hacking methods were not limited to attacks that require clicking on malicious links, but also included “one-click” attacks and others that can be carried out without any interaction from the user, in addition to techniques for monitoring communications and Internet traffic, tracking websites, and extracting data from phones.
The organization also confirmed that “Pegasus” represents part of a broader system that includes other tools and technologies, including products linked to the companies “Hacking Team” and “FinFisher,” as well as eavesdropping devices and surveillance cameras.
According to the report, surveillance was not limited to collecting information, but in some cases it was linked to defamation campaigns that used photos, correspondence, and private data, in addition to arrests and judicial prosecutions.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said in a statement, “Morocco has fully adopted authoritarian technical practices and acquired a wide range of surveillance technologies that enable the creation and operation of a repressive regime specifically designed to instill fear in the hearts of human rights defenders and journalists, silence them and obstruct their work inside and outside Morocco.”
She confirmed Organization The Moroccan authorities use “high-tech tools” in addition to traditional methods such as stalking and eavesdropping.
Regarding Western Sahara, the organization said that Sahrawi defenders are among the most targeted groups, due to their protest activity and defense of human rights, noting that some of these activities are treated as related to “the internal security of the state.”
This is not the first time that Morocco is accused of it By resorting to surveillance tools. For years, non-governmental organizations, including Amnesty International, and international media have accused Rabat of using the “Pegasus” spy program developed by the Zionist company “NSO” to target journalists, activists, and politicians.
