Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, has revealed that his department is developing a legal framework to expand the powers of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA). The initiative aims to regulate social media by balancing freedom of expression, the protection of young audiences, and digital justice. The concept was first raised in 2019. During a meeting of the Education, Culture, and Communication Committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, called for a comprehensive legal framework to curb the harmful effects of digital platforms. Addressing the proposed expansion of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication's (HACA) powers to include oversight of social media, he stressed the state's responsibility to shield young audiences from the dangers of online content and major tech companies (GAFA: Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon), drawing on international best practices. According to Bensaid, this framework would empower HACA to oversee digital platforms operating in Morocco, even if they lack a physical presence, as long as their content targets Moroccan users or generates revenue from them. The framework would also require platforms to appoint a legal representative and submit regular reports detailing content moderation practices, complaint handling procedures, and statistics on removed or controversial content. Defining Platforms and Imposing Clear Obligations Bensaid highlighted the need for a clear definition of what constitutes a digital platform or content-sharing service (such as social media), to subject them to specific legal obligations and better define their relationship with the state. The proposed legislation would mandate the appointment of a legal representative within Moroccan territory, addressing the current legal void that allows foreign platforms to operate without proper oversight. The framework would also introduce a sanction system for non-compliance or lack of cooperation with Moroccan authorities, and require platforms to implement effective content moderation mechanisms. These would include automated systems—algorithms designed to detect and remove illegal content, including violent messages, hate speech, disinformation, and content targeting minors. When it comes to young users, Bensaid said the law would require platforms to take concrete steps to protect minors from harmful or inappropriate content. These include age-based content categorization, the activation of parental controls, bans on ads exploiting minors' vulnerabilities or promoting harmful products, and the removal of content that could damage their psychological or behavioral development. The proposed legal framework would also compel platforms to take swift action against misinformation and illegal content—especially in cases involving incitement to violence, terrorism, or racial, ethnic, or religious hatred. Platforms would be expected to remove such content and cooperate with Moroccan authorities in enforcing HACA's content restriction or blocking decisions. A Debate Reopened After a Dormant Proposal The idea of expanding HACA's regulatory powers to digital content was first raised in 2019, when then-Minister of Culture Mohamed Laaraj supported the move, calling for it to be embedded in an appropriate legal framework. At the time, HACA's public interventions focused on combating online misinformation through media education rather than direct regulation. Discussions back then largely concerned press outlets and audiovisual media governed by the Press Code or Law 77.03, emphasizing their educational role, political plurality, and responsibility in ensuring accurate information. However, the proposal did not move forward, and no bill emerged from the process that satisfied the General Secretariat of the Government (SGG). Sources told Yabiladi at the time that discussions were underway regarding extending HACA's oversight to internet platforms, but they remained at the conceptual stage. Now, Bensaid is advocating for a new legal instrument—one aligned with European digital services legislation—aimed at removing regulatory loopholes and asserting digital sovereignty. He sees these measures as crucial for holding global tech giants accountable and ensuring that they operate under Moroccan jurisdiction.
