Le Monde Investigation Presents New Evidence Linking Morocco to Pegasus Spyware
A new investigation published by French newspaper Le Monde and its international partners in the Pegasus Project has presented additional evidence allegedly linking Morocco to the use of Pegasus spyware, despite Rabat’s continued rejection of the accusations first reported in 2021.
The investigation cites internal documents from NSO Group that became public during legal proceedings in the United States. One document refers to a company client using the code name “Morgan.” Sources familiar with NSO’s internal naming system told the consortium that clients were assigned car-brand code names beginning with the same letter as their country, with “Morgan” allegedly referring to Morocco.
The report also refers to a French foreign intelligence memorandum stating that Morocco and the United Arab Emirates had used NSO products since at least 2017.
A whistleblower identified by the pseudonym “Safir,” described as a former officer in Morocco’s domestic intelligence service, told investigators that the agency began using Pegasus in 2017. He alleged that NSO representatives demonstrated the spyware to Moroccan officials at a villa in Rabat, showing how it could remotely access phone data and activate cameras and microphones.
According to the investigation, Safir provided names and telephone numbers belonging to officials involved in testing the system. The consortium said several numbers matched targeting data examined during the original Pegasus Project.
The report further claims that technical indicators found by France’s cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, on the phones of French officials corresponded with traces identified on devices belonging to Moroccan journalists, opposition figures and human rights defenders.
Pegasus can reportedly access messages, calls, photographs and other information stored on a targeted smartphone, sometimes without requiring action from its owner.
Le Monde said it contacted both the Moroccan authorities and NSO Group for comment, but neither had responded before publication. Morocco has repeatedly denied purchasing or using Pegasus.
