Rabat – The Moroccan government and social media giant TikTok have agreed to engage in open dialogue in the wake of calls for stricter regulations governing the platform in the country.
Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, announced the news during a parliamentary session on Tuesday. This discussion may lead to the establishment of a TikTok office in the country, he added.
At the session, concerns were raised about TikTok’s growing influence among young people and the potential harm caused by some of its content. Moroccan lawmakers spoke about the need for stricter regulations and monitoring to address the platform’s challenges.
Bensaid said it is important to introduce TikTok to Moroccan culture and values. “We will try to ensure they understand Moroccan concepts of culture,” he said. He also noted the role of families in monitoring children’s online activity and promoting safe digital practices.
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The minister acknowledged the difficulty of enforcing strict bans or controls due to technologies like VPNs that can bypass restrictions, but said it is important to apply existing laws. He encouraged citizens to report cases of defamation, slander, and the spread of false information to ensure authorities can address these violations effectively.
The minister also called for stronger cooperation with global tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, and Facebook, to ensure these platforms respect Morocco’s unique cultural values and legal boundaries. “The way these companies view freedom of expression and values is different from how we see it as Moroccans,” he noted.
The announcement follows a meeting in September between Bensaid and Wael Ezzat, TikTok’s Head of Public Policy for the Middle East and North Africa. During the meeting, both parties discussed ways to combat misinformation, defamation, and harmful content on the platform.
