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Join on Telegram Rabat – A Casablanca court has reportedly sentenced a student to one year in prison for hacking advertising billboards promoting the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The student posted an insulting message through them.
The student was prosecuted by the public prosecutor at the Ain Sebaa Court of First Instance, converging reports said today. He faced charges of insulting public officials, unauthorized access to data processing systems, and deliberately disrupting and disabling systems.
Earlier this month, Casablanca police arrested an individual for hacking the electronic billboards, which were displaying the countdown to the AFCON.
The suspect broadcast offensive messages targeting national security officials.
The hacking incident occurred amid the youth-led protests in Casablanca and across Morocco.
Cities and towns across Morocco have witnessed protests since September. Initiated by young people demanding better life quality and improved social services, the protests began peacefully with calls for the government to guarantee basic rights such as good healthcare and educational reforms. However, the protests turned chaotic in early October. Many videos online show young people engaging in vandalism and rioting, targeting businesses such as banks and local shops. Peaceful protests, however, resumed with Gen Z demonstrators calling on the government to meet their demands, seeking better education and healthcare.
