Key Takeaways
- A former member of Morocco’s domestic intelligence service revealed the widespread deployment of Pegasus hacking software.
- The spyware was used to target journalists, human rights defenders, and foreign officials including French politicians and Spanish cabinet members.
- Pegasus allows operators to access all data on a target's mobile phone, including emails, text messages, photos, and even activate recording devices.
A former member of Morocco’s domestic intelligence service has provided unprecedented insight into the use of Pegasus spyware by Moroccan security services. The whistleblower disclosed that internal security forces have been deploying this sophisticated hacking tool since 2017 against key domestic and foreign targets, including journalists and human rights activists.
Pegasus, manufactured by the Israeli company NSO Group, is a highly advanced software designed to infiltrate mobile devices without the user’s knowledge. According to the insider, it can access all data on a target's phone, including emails, text messages, photographs, and even activate the device’s recorder and camera, turning it into a listening device.
The revelations come as no surprise to many in the tech and security communities who have long suspected such practices by intelligence agencies. However, this insider’s account offers concrete details on how Pegasus was used against specific individuals and entities. Among those targeted were French politicians and Spanish cabinet ministers and police officers, highlighting the international scope of Morocco's surveillance efforts.
The use of Pegasus spyware has raised serious concerns about privacy and human rights in Morocco. The Moroccan government has not commented publicly on these allegations, but such revelations could have significant political implications for the country’s relations with other nations and its own citizens.
According to the insider, the deployment of Pegasus was part of a broader strategy by Moroccan intelligence services to monitor and control key figures within the country and abroad. This includes journalists who might pose a threat to state interests or human rights defenders working on sensitive cases that could embarrass the government.
The use of such sophisticated technology underscores the growing reliance of intelligence agencies worldwide on advanced surveillance tools. However, it also highlights the ethical dilemmas and potential abuses associated with their deployment. Critics argue that such practices can undermine democratic principles and individual freedoms.
