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Rabat – Morocco’s government is working on new regulations that would impose new rules on the field of online media and news reporting, the country’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid announced on Tuesday.
Responding to a question during a session of the House of Councillors, the minister said that electronic media and news exists in a state of “chaos,” attributing it to a number of sites and outlets that are operating without license.
“The reason behind this chaos is the 2016 journalism and publishing bill, and it is time to change it to definitively finalize the legal organization of electronic media,” Bensaid said.
He then announced that his ministry has been working on new agreements with relevant governmental actors to compel online media organizations to follow all traditional requirements for other outlets.
Bensaid added that the authorities would set new conditions for the establishment of new online outlets, noting that there are several online news sites that are not licensed, don’t have the necessary infrastructure, and don’t pay their employees’ social protection fees.
“It is unacceptable for journalists to work with a low salary and no health coverage,” he said.
As is the case around the world, online media is quickly becoming the dominant form of information for all Moroccans, especially young ones who grew up with the internet.
A 2021 Arab Barometer report said that social media was becoming Moroccans’ main source of news and information.
According to the study, 65% of Moroccans use the internet at least one time a day, with most of those being part of the younger demographics.
Out of the countries in the survey, Morocco had the largest gap of internet usage with respect to education, with 91% of Moroccans with a higher education reporting that they use the internet daily, compared to 56% of those with a secondary education or less.
A growing rate of internet adoption and easier access mean that the rate of those who get their news through social media and online outlets will only grow, prompting many to express concern over the spread of fake news.
Experts have called for raising awareness among the public on information and media literacy, as well as tighter rules on social media platforms over misinformation.
