Moroccan intelligence insider says state used Pegasus spyware on journalists and officials

A former officer of Morocco’s domestic intelligence service has revealed that the state deployed the Israeli‑made Pegasus spyware from 2017 to surveil a broad range of domestic and foreign targets. According to the whistleblower, the software was used to infiltrate the mobile phones of journalists, human rights activists, French politicians, Spanish cabinet ministers and police officers, granting the operators access to emails, text messages, photographs, and the ability to activate cameras and microphones. The allegations come as part of a growing global scrutiny of Pegasus’s use by governments to suppress dissent and monitor political rivals.

The revelations shed new light on the scope of Morocco’s intelligence operations and the extent of its cooperation with the NSO Group, the company that produces Pegasus. While the Moroccan government has not yet commented on the claims, the whistleblower’s testimony underscores the broader pattern of state‑backed cyber‑espionage that has targeted civil society and foreign officials across the region. The disclosure raises questions about the legal safeguards and oversight mechanisms governing the deployment of such invasive surveillance tools.

If verified, the findings could prompt a reassessment of Morocco’s intelligence practices and its compliance with international norms on privacy and human rights. The case also highlights the need for clearer regulations on the use of advanced spyware by state actors, particularly when foreign officials and civil society members are involved. The international community will likely monitor Morocco’s response closely as the investigation into the alleged misuse of Pegasus continues.