Amnesty International accuses Morocco of spying on activists and journalists with spyware

Amnesty International has accused Morocco of using spyware and other surveillance methods for years to monitor and silence activists, journalists, and critics both inside and outside the country, including French and Spanish politicians.

The report, published on Thursday by the London-based NGO, details allegations of spyware attacks, phone interception, hidden recording devices, and tracking of individuals’ movements. It states that people have been secretly videoed and audio recorded in detention, offices, cars, and even bedrooms, with phone calls systematically recorded and spied upon.

According to Amnesty, Morocco’s domestic intelligence service, the DGST, employs these technologies, which it obtained from Israeli, American, and European companies. The personal data collected is reportedly used to fuel public smear campaigns against activists and human rights defenders.

The NGO based its findings on testimonies from a former Moroccan intelligence officer, leaked documents, and journalistic investigations. Amnesty has called on Morocco to cease spying on activists and journalists and to launch an independent investigation into the DGST’s activities.

Morocco has repeatedly denied using spyware against its citizens.