Germany’s Federal Court of Justice has agreed to examine a complaint filed by Morocco against two national media outlets accused of publishing defamatory claims about the country’s alleged use of the Pegasus spyware.
The case targets Zeit Online and Süddeutsche Zeitung, which reported in 2021 that Moroccan authorities had used Pegasus to monitor European political figures, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, EU Council President Charles Michel and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez.
Morocco has consistently rejected the allegations and sought legal action after the publications.
Lower courts in Hamburg initially dismissed the suit, arguing that foreign states cannot bring defamation claims under German press freedom protections.
The federal court’s decision to reopen the case marks a procedural shift, allowing judges to assess whether Morocco’s complaint is legally admissible.
The ruling will focus solely on admissibility, not on the substance of the Pegasus accusations, but could determine whether Morocco can pursue damages under German law.
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