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Join on Telegram Morocco’s Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi has emphasized the pressing need for a legal framework to regulate social media platforms.
Speaking on Thursday at the 40th session of the Arab Minister of Justice Council in Cairo, Ouahbi noted the importance of addressing the potential misuse of social media and streaming platforms that can threaten individual freedoms.
The Moroccan minister called for a thorough discussion on the issue, adding that Morocco is planning an international conference on AI and social media next year.
This is not the first time that Ouahbi has announced Morocco’s plans to introduce strict penalties in the penal code to address misconduct on social media platforms.
“The solution consists of promulgating articles in the penal code aimed at sanctioning these acts, with years of imprisonment. That is what we have done,” he said in an interview with Morocco’s 2M television channel in September.
The minister also vowed to “put an end to what is happening on TikTok and YouTube, such as filming people’s private lives without their permission.”
Read also: Bensaid: TikTok Agrees to Open Dialogue on Content Concerns, Potential Office in Morocco
Ouahbi’s latest remarks come amid increasing incidents of defamation and privacy violations.
Earlier this week, Youth and Culture Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid confirmed Morocco’s plan to step up efforts aimed at policing citizens’ behavior on social media.
Bensaid notably announced that the Moroccan government and TikTok management had agreed to engage in open dialogue in the wake of calls for stricter regulations governing the platform in the North African country.
The minister stressed the need for Moroccan TikTok users to respect Morocco’s culture and values. “We will try to ensure they understand Moroccan concepts of culture,” Bensaid said, noting the role of families in monitoring children’s online activity and promoting safe digital practices.
A recent report by the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council warned of the serious risks digital platforms can pose to the mental health of children and young people.
While acknowledging that digital technologies can significantly contribute to children’s personal growth, the report stressed that their excessive and inappropriate use can have serious and confirmed consequences on children’s mental and physical health.
