A former officer of Morocco's General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) has come forward as a whistleblower, alleging that the intelligence agency engaged in a massive, unchecked acquisition of surveillance tools, including the Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group. The testimony, reported by multiple news outlets on July 15, 2026, claims that these tools were used to monitor journalists, human rights activists, and political opponents both domestically and abroad.
The whistleblower, whose identity has been protected for security reasons, stated that the purchases were made without proper oversight and that the surveillance operations violated Moroccan and international laws. According to documents reviewed by the press, the DGST spent tens of millions of dollars on spyware and other digital monitoring equipment between 2020 and 2025, with the knowledge of senior government officials.
This revelation comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of Morocco's surveillance practices. In 2021, the Pegasus Project had already linked Moroccan authorities to the hacking of phones belonging to journalists and activists. The new testimony provides further evidence of a systematic pattern, with the whistleblower claiming that the surveillance was not limited to national security threats but extended to silencing dissent.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, have called for an independent investigation into the allegations. The Moroccan government has not yet issued an official response to the latest claims, but in the past, it has denied any involvement in illegal surveillance, stating that its security services operate within the framework of the law.
The case has reignited debates about the global trade in surveillance technology and the need for stricter regulations to prevent human rights abuses. As of July 16, 2026, no formal charges have been filed, but the whistleblower's account is expected to fuel further calls for accountability in Morocco and beyond.
