# Morocco's Surveillance State Extends Beyond Western Sahara

> Amnesty reveals Morocco's spyware and surveillance targeting Sahrawi activists, forcing Europe to confront security partnerships.
- Title: Morocco's Surveillance State Extends Beyond Western Sahara
- Summary: Amnesty reveals Morocco's spyware and surveillance targeting Sahrawi activists, forcing Europe to confront security partnerships. Amnesty International's…
- Keywords: amnesty international, morocco, western sahara, sahrawi activists, surveillance, spyware, pegasus, security cooperation, human rights, politics, world, Morocco's
- Source: EUobserver — https://euobserver.com/241454/moroccos-surveillance-state-does-not-stop-at-western-sahara-and-europe-can-no-longer-pretend-not-to-know
- Published: 2026-10-08T08:50:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: amnesty international, morocco, western sahara, sahrawi activists, surveillance, spyware, pegasus, security cooperation, eu, human rights, politics, world
## Amnesty's Surveillance Report
Amnesty International released a report titled 'We Start With the Verdict: Inside Morocco’s Surveillance Machine' in April 2021.

> We Start With the Verdict: Inside Morocco’s Surveillance Machine
## Sahrawi Activists Targeted
Amnesty reports a former Moroccan intelligence officer named 'Safir' described Sahrawis and Riffians as priority intelligence targets beyond Morocco.

> Safir
## Spyware and Smear Campaigns
Amnesty found evidence of Pegasus spyware and cases where Sahrawi activism information reached European media through surveillance.

> Pegasus spyware
## Western Sahara Surveillance
Sahrawi activists face restrictions on expression, arbitrary arrests, and prolonged surveillance under Moroccan rule.

> Sahrawi activists
## European Parliaments Contradiction
The European Parliament rejected Morocco’s use of border control for unaccompanied minors but maintained counterterrorism cooperation with Morocco.

> European Parliament
## Security Partnerships Under Scrutiny
Amnesty questions whether Western security cooperation with Morocco has been used against Sahrawi human rights defenders.

> Western security cooperation
## Sahrawi Human Rights Appeal
Sahrawis demand to be treated as free human beings capable of expressing views about Western Sahara without fear.

> Sahrawis
## Call for One Day Without Fear
Sahrawis seek one day to speak without surveillance, pressure, or concern about their words reaching their phone, workplace, or family.

> One day to speak without surveillance
## Human Rights Over Geopolitics
Amnesty urges Europe to prioritize Sahrawi human rights over geopolitical solutions to Western Sahara.

> Human rights over geopolitics
## Key takeaway

Amnesty International's report shows Moroccan intelligence targets Sahrawi activists with spyware and smear campaigns, demanding Europe reevaluate security cooperation.