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Rabat – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on governments and technology companies to take stronger and more responsible action to protect children online.
Speaking on Friday, High Commissioner Volker Türk warned that while digital platforms offer children access to learning, creativity, and social connection, they also expose them to serious risks affecting their safety, privacy, and mental well-being.
He said many of these harms are not accidental but come from the way platforms are designed. Features such as infinite scroll, autoplay videos, and constant notifications can encourage addictive use and make it harder for children to disconnect.
“The digital world that connects children to learning, community, and creativity also exposes them to real risks,” Türk said, adding that protecting children online must be treated as an urgent priority. He stated that solutions must go beyond simple restrictions and focus on making platforms safer by design.
The UN Human Rights Office has released a set of guidelines titled Getting Children’s Safety Online Right. The guidelines recommend that countries avoid relying only on age-based bans, saying these measures alone are not enough to address deeper structural problems in platform design.
Instead, the UN encourages governments to require tech companies to build stronger safety systems from the start, improve data protection, and take responsibility for harmful content. It also calls for better transparency, independent oversight, and ways for children to seek remedy when their rights are violated.
Türk also warned that age verification systems must be carefully designed to avoid creating new risks, such as exposing personal data. He noted that overly strict bans could also push children toward less regulated and more dangerous online spaces.
Concerns about children’s safety online have grown in Morocco in recent years as internet use and social media access have expanded rapidly among young people. Authorities and civil society groups have repeatedly warned about risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming, and exposure to inappropriate content
The country has strengthened legal tools and awareness campaigns aimed at protecting minors, including efforts by security services to monitor online exploitation cases and encourage reporting.
The General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) has expanded its cybercrime units and regularly carries out operations targeting online child exploitation, while also encouraging the public to report suspicious activity.
At the same time, the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection has intensified awareness campaigns on digital privacy and safe internet use, including guidance aimed at young users.
In addition, schools, in partnership with organizations such as UNICEF Morocco, have also developed educational programs to help children and parents better understand online risks and adopt safer internet practices.
Despite these efforts, there are still challenges, especially as more children gain early access to smartphones and social media platforms.
