Ouahbi: Morocco to criminalize online extortion in new penal code

The upcoming amendments to Morocco’s criminal code will explicitly criminalize online extortion and digital defamation, Justice Minister Abdelatif Ouahbi said in the House of Representatives.

 Ouahbi, responding to questions from parliamentarians about freedom of expression, drew a clear line between protected speech and harmful practices such as electronic blackmail. 

He rejected the notion that the government sought to silence voices, stressing that the law must address the rise of online harassment without impeding legitimate free speech.

Ouahbi argued that the state must protect its citizens from online exploitation and criminal acts, underscoring that no individual, including journalists and politicians, should be above the law. 

He revealed that the new legal framework would target a range of digital crimes, including the manipulation of information and the exploitation of vulnerable groups for financial gain. 

Specifically, the bill will address those who engage in extortion or use online platforms to tarnish reputations, and will enforce penalties against those who exploit children in social media content.

The Minister highlighted that financial incentives were at the core of these crimes, noting how the lure of quick profits has driven individuals to engage in defamation and extortion. 

He lamented the spread of these harmful practices, which he described as undermining public trust and destabilizing the digital environment. While defending the right to freedom of expression, Ouahbi emphasized that it should not come at the cost of other individuals’ dignity or privacy. 

He urged victims of online abuse to exercise their constitutional right to seek legal redress.

In addition to addressing digital crimes, Ouahbi also confronted the ongoing issue of implementing court rulings against the state. He acknowledged that the government had allocated significant funds to compensate individuals affected by court decisions, yet many judgments exceeded available resources.

 Ouahbi called for greater efficiency in implementing rulings, stressing that the state, as a leading institution, must model respect for the legal process and ensure that all judgments are executed in accordance with the law.