Morocco Targeted Former NRC Correspondent’s Phone with Pegasus Spyware

The Moroccan security service DGST attempted to install Pegasus spyware on the phone of Dutch journalist Koen Greven, according to a report by the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial. Greven, who served as a correspondent for NRC and De Standaard between 2015 and 2022, was identified on a list of 250 Spanish phone numbers targeted for surveillance between 2018 and 2019.

DGST Targets and the Pegasus Surveillance List

El Confidencial reported that it and 14 other European media outlets accessed a list of 250 Spanish phone numbers compiled by the Moroccan security service DGST. The list primarily includes Moroccan Spaniards and leaders of the Polisario Front, a resistance movement seeking an independent state in Western Sahara.

Amnesty International’s Security Lab assisted in the journalistic investigation. However, Amnesty stated that a forensic report of the devices is typically required to confirm if the phones on the list were actually hacked.

Koen Greven’s Connection to Moroccan Activism

Greven, currently chef Sport at news agency ANP, told NRC that he was not surprised to be targeted. During his time as a correspondent, he interviewed Nasser Zafzafi, a key figure in protests against corruption in the Rif region. Zafzafi was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Moroccan court in 2018.

Greven noted that Morocco has expelled several foreign journalists. He was personally requested to leave the country at one point due to a lack of a work permit.

Broader Patterns of Moroccan Cyber-Espionage

This incident follows previous allegations of state-sponsored spying. In 2021, Le Monde reported that a mobile number belonging to French President Emmanuel Macron appeared on a 2019 list of targets compiled by NSO for Moroccan intelligence.

While Morocco denies using NSO software, other agencies have utilized it. According to de Volkskrant, the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD used NSO software to hack the phone of drug criminal Ridouan Taghi.

Potential Future Developments

Greven has contacted the Dutch ambassador to Morocco but stated he does not intend to take further legal or formal steps. He noted he no longer uses the Spanish mobile number and no longer works in the region.

Future verification of the breach may depend on whether affected individuals provide their devices for forensic analysis, as suggested by Amnesty International.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Koen Greven?
Koen Greven is a journalist who worked as a correspondent for NRC and De Standaard from 2015 to 2022 and is currently chef Sport at ANP.

What is the Polisario Front?
The Polisario Front is a resistance movement that aims to establish an independent state in Western Sahara.

Does Morocco admit to using Pegasus?
No, Morocco denies that it uses software from the Israeli company NSO.

Do you believe current international laws are sufficient to protect journalists from state-sponsored cyber-surveillance?