A former Moroccan intelligence officer has provided details on the government's use of Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to monitor journalists, activists, and foreign officials.
Key facts
- •Safir worked for the Moroccan domestic intelligence agency, the DGST, for almost ten years.
- •The investigative findings were corroborated by Amnesty International's Security Lab through analysis of leaked data and targeting records.
- •The 2017 presentation of Pegasus in Rabat was held at a facility named after FSSYS Maroc, an Emirati surveillance intermediary.
- •Morocco previously denied allegations from 2021 that it used Pegasus to spy on critics and allies.
A former Moroccan intelligence officer, identified by the pseudonym Safir, has revealed details regarding the Moroccan government's use of Pegasus spyware to track journalists, human rights defenders, and foreign officials. The revelations were part of an investigation published by Forbidden Stories, Amnesty International, and 13 media organizations. Safir, who worked for the Direction Generale de la Surveillance du Territoire (DGST) for nearly a decade, provided testimony corroborated by leaked emails, training materials, and targeting records.
Introduction of Pegasus in Morocco
According to the investigation, Pegasus was first introduced to Moroccan intelligence services in 2017 at a villa in Rabat known as the “FSSYS villa.” Representatives from the NSO Group, the Israeli firm that developed the software, presented the tool to high-ranking Moroccan intelligence officers and technical experts. Safir suggested that the software was a gift from the United Arab Emirates, describing the arrangement as a shared subscription service where the UAE provided access to friendly intelligence agencies.
Surveillance Methods and Strategy
The report indicates that the DGST utilized Pegasus as a last resort due to its high cost. Before deploying the software, intelligence officers reportedly relied on cheaper surveillance techniques, such as monitoring internet cafes or persuading shopkeepers to sell mobile devices pre-infected with other spyware to dissidents. Safir characterized Pegasus as a "monster's weapon" used only after traditional methods were exhausted.
Timeline
- 2017Pegasus spyware was first presented to Moroccan intelligence services at a villa in Rabat.
- 2021Investigative reporting accused Morocco of using Pegasus to spy on critics and allies, which the government denied.
- ThursdayAn investigation detailing the whistleblower's account was published by Forbidden Stories, Amnesty, and 13 media organizations.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Middle East Eye, Middle East Eye.
