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The child protection organization Don’t Touch My Child has raised the alarm over what it describes as a «dangerous digital shift» in crimes involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors in Morocco. In a statement, the group warned that social media platforms and digital applications are increasingly being used to lure children into situations of sexual abuse and exploitation, calling for stronger security measures and stricter judicial oversight.
Speaking to Yabiladi, the organization said that while no comprehensive national statistics exist to accurately measure the scale of the phenomenon, evidence from the field points to a «worrying increase» in the number of complaints and cases involving online grooming and the sexual exploitation of minors.
The association stressed that the threat is not confined to any single platform. Rather, it extends across social media networks, instant messaging applications and even interactive online games. According to the organization, these tools become particularly dangerous because they facilitate «direct communication» and allow users to «conceal their identity», making it easier for predators to operate anonymously.
While praising the efforts of Morocco’s cybercrime units, Don’t Touch My Child warned that what it called «digital wolves» are increasingly taking advantage of technological advances by using fake profiles, encrypted applications and the ability to quickly create new accounts after existing ones are blocked. This, the organization said, makes proactive online monitoring significantly more challenging.
In light of these developments, the group called on Moroccan lawmakers and judicial authorities to respond with the utmost firmness by applying the toughest available prison sentences and aggravating circumstances in cases involving the exploitation of minors, in order to combat impunity.
The organization also emphasized the central role of schools in its prevention strategy, advocating stronger partnerships with the Ministry of National Education to expand awareness campaigns in educational institutions. At the same time, it urged Moroccan families to remain vigilant and make greater use of parental control tools to protect children from the risks lurking online.
