Morocco’s Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, addressed the Upper House representatives on Tuesday with plans to adopt a series of measures and sanctions to combat harassment, sextortion, and defamation on social media networks.
He stated that the legislative texts have been reviewed as part of the new draft of the penal code, which will include more severe procedures and sanctions in cases of sexual harassment, defamation, and the spreading of rumors and disinformation on social media.
Ouahbi emphasized the need to distinguish between freedom of speech on social networks and “absurd” practices, noting, “The new penal code will be ‘uncompromising’ towards individuals who exploit these networks for harassment, defamation, and blackmail.”
Earlier this year, the Minister announced that the draft of this criminal code has reached an advanced stage and is expected to include new crimes and eliminate outdated laws.
The number of online sexual blackmail and cyber harassment cases rose alarmingly last year, according to data published by the National Police (DGSN).
Morocco recorded an upward trend in cyber-extortion crimes, with 5,969 cases, an increase of 6%. Of these, 4,070 cases involved extortion, while sextortion cases in particular rose by 18% to 508–resulting in the arrest of 182 individuals involved in such criminal acts–which targeted 515 victims, including 109 foreign nationals.