Morocco threatens legal action over allegations it used Israeli spyware

AFP — Morocco’s government threatens legal action against anyone accusing it of using the Israeli spyware program Pegasus, and deplored what it calls a “false, massive, malicious media campaign.”

A government statement “categorically denied the false and unfounded allegations” that the North African country’s intelligence services had used the software.

News outlets had reported on Sunday that the software, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, had been used by governments to spy on activists, journalists, lawyers and politicians around the world.

The bombshell claims were based on a leaked document containing 50,000 numbers of people identified as potential targets via Pegasus between 2016 and June 2021.

Numbers from 10 countries — Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — figured particularly often on the list.

On Monday, Morocco said it had “never acquired computer software to infiltrate communication devices.”

A day later, Radio France reported that the Moroccan king was on the list of 50,000 numbers, which also included “a large number” of Moroccan royals.

Today’s government statement says Rabat will “opt for a judicial process, in Morocco and internationally, against any party taking up these spurious allegations.”