Morocco to Deal ‘Strictly’ with Defamation on Websites, New Media – Justice Minister

In his response to a question in the House of Representatives on the « phenomenon of electronic defamation in Morocco », submitted by the National Grouping of Independents group, Ouahbi indicated that the Court of Cassation issued a ruling the previous week, which he considers « an important step forward », explaining that what is published on social networks does not fall under the prerogatives of the Press and Publishing Code, but under the Penal Code.

The minister also considered that this jurisprudence « will push the Public Prosecutor’s Office towards the application of the criminal law on social networks », noting that the draft criminal law, which will soon be submitted to the legislative institution, includes provisions that « reinforce the repression against attacks on individual freedoms ».

The minister also recalled that Morocco signed last year the Budapest Convention on the fight against cybercrime, which is a binding convention.