الخميس، 27 فبراير 2025 
BY/ Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Several Belgian police officers and magistrates have discovered traces of highly sophisticated spyware on their mobile phones, according to a report by the Radio-television of the French community (RTBF) on Thursday. The investigation has pointed to Morocco, a country known for its use of the Pegasus spyware, as a possible source.
The RTBF, having verified the information with multiple sources over the past few months, revealed that “several phones belonging to prosecutors, investigating judges, police officers, and justice staff members have been handed over to the federal police’s Computer Crime Unit (FCCU), which specializes in complex cybercrime, for extensive and repeated analysis.”
The initial findings suggest that all the analyzed phones have been infected with spyware. The device of examining magistrate Michel Claise was among those that tested positive, along with others belonging to magistrates and police officers. However, the exact number of affected devices is not yet known.
Based on insider information, the Belgian media reported that investigators are primarily concerned with determining the specific spyware used and identifying its origin.
According to RTBF, the spyware in question is a technologically advanced software capable of taking control of targeted phones, extracting messages (including encrypted ones), photos, contacts, and enabling audio and video recordings of conversations.
The Moroccan hypothesis arises from two factors. While the exact name of the software and the responsible party remain uncertain, several sources mentioned a potential link between this espionage case and the corruption scandal involving Morocco in the European Parliament.
RTBF’s informants provide two reasons to support the theory of Moroccan involvement. Firstly, many of the targeted individuals are connected to the investigation into the “Marocgate” scandal, including examining magistrate Michel Claise. Secondly, Morocco is known to be a frequent customer in the spyware market. This was highlighted by the recent announcement from Canadian research laboratory Citizen Lab, which revealed that Morocco is one of the earliest adopters of spyware developed by QuaDream Ltd.
Additional sources explained to Belgian media that spying on members of the police and judicial apparatus can serve two purposes: the illicit gathering of information regarding ongoing investigations and legal proceedings, or the use of stolen messages, images, or other elements to exert pressure on individuals in influential positions.
The investigation into this case of alleged espionage is ongoing, and authorities are working diligently to uncover the full extent of the operation, identify the perpetrators, and safeguard the privacy and security of Belgian magistrates and police officers.