Moroccan Justice Minister vows crackdown on online excesses

Abdellatif Ouahbi, the Moroccan Minister of Justice, has vowed to take a firm stance against the defamation and privacy violations rampant on social media platforms.

In a recent interview with 2M, Ouahbi stated, «We will introduce specific articles in the penal code to impose strict penalties, including imprisonment, for these harmful acts. The unchecked behavior on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, such as filming people's private lives without their consent, will no longer be tolerated».

عبد اللطيف وهبي يؤكد أن مشروع القانون الجنائي يتضمن عقوبات تجرم التجاوزات التي تقع على "تيكتوك" و "اليوتوب"

لمشاهدة الحوار كاملا :

??https://t.co/xkCOpi9dgR@Ouah1Abdellatif pic.twitter.com/HBaQ8EhgIr

— 2M.ma (@2MInteractive) September 2, 2024

The Minister emphasized the need for greater regulation in the online sphere, noting, «There is a lack of oversight and accountability. People can freely defame public figures and invade others' privacy. We will enact a dedicated law to address these excesses».

This latest announcement follows similar pledges made by Ouahbi in December 2022. He had previously expressed his determination to protect individuals' dignity and privacy online, vowing to introduce severe penalties for those who share private photos or engage in defamatory behavior on social media platforms.