The Minister of Justice has launched a new campaign against those who violate the privacy of Moroccans on social networks. «I call on all Moroccans who are victims of attacks on social media to seek justice and financial compensation... because their personal image, reputation, and secrets have been targeted. Justice will address these issues», Abdellatif Ouahbi emphasized on Tuesday at the House of Councillors. «Anyone who commits these acts on social media will face trial», he warned. The Minister pointed out, «There is a difference between those who work as journalists and those who merely talk on their YouTube channels (...) Some people hide behind journalistic work to commit crimes and earn money». Ouahbi also pledged to address these practices as part of the revision of the penal code, which has remained outdated for years. He vowed to impose severe penalties «to protect Moroccan citizens, Moroccan women, families, and the fundamental values of the nation». Last September, during an appearance on national broadcaster 2M, the Minister had already announced plans to penalize abuses on social media. «We will put an end to what is happening on TikTok and YouTube, such as filming people's private lives without their consent (...) There is media anarchy. There are no regulations. On YouTube, people say whatever they want about a minister or an official (...) We will adopt specific legislation to penalize these excesses». As a reminder, on November 11, Moroccan courts ruled in favor of Abdellatif Ouahbi in a complaint he filed against Hamid El Mahdaoui. The journalist and YouTuber was sentenced to one and a half years in prison and fined 1.5 million dirhams.
