Weak laws undermine Morocco’s urban surveillance expansion, says policy report

Morocco’s rollout of urban surveillance systems in major cities has been slow and fraught with obstacles, due in large part to weak legislation and an underdeveloped institutional framework, according to a recent report by the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis.

Titled “Urban Surveillance Cameras: Balancing Security and Human Rights,” the report finds that Morocco’s ambitions to use surveillance to combat crime remain modest, hampered by high financial costs, vague legal protections for personal data, and a regulatory authority lacking the capacity to effectively protect citizens’ rights.

The report notes that while the government has prioritized digitalization in public services and economic sectors, investment in urban surveillance, particularly in marginalized regions, has been deprioritized.

“The lion’s share of digital transformation budgets is funneled into large development projects in major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech, leaving smaller towns without adequate surveillance infrastructure,” the report says.

It also points to the absence of a national mechanism to oversee the planning, implementation, and sustainability of surveillance programs. According to the analysis, Morocco lacks a specialized body that could coordinate between security services and local development agencies, resulting in fragmented efforts and policy gaps.

Citing the French model, the report suggests Morocco could benefit from establishing a joint ministerial fund to finance surveillance systems and command centers, a model that emphasizes inter-ministerial cooperation and centralized oversight. The absence of such a coordinating body in Morocco, the report argues, limits the effectiveness and equity of surveillance programs.

Legal shortcomings further complicate matters. Morocco’s Law No. 08-09 on personal data protection offers only limited safeguards and explicitly exempts national security operations from oversight by the data protection commission. “This exemption creates a significant legal loophole that allows for unchecked expansion of smart surveillance systems, risking violations of privacy and civil liberties,” the authors warn.

The report also draws parallels with South Africa’s deployment of smart surveillance infrastructure during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, calling it a compelling model for Morocco as it prepares to host the 2030 World Cup.

Such large-scale events, the report notes, require advanced and reliable security systems that can serve broader urban planning goals if implemented responsibly.

Among the report’s recommendations are the creation of a national surveillance fund, legal reform to strengthen privacy protections, and the formation of joint units combining security and judicial expertise to ensure checks and balances.

It concludes by urging a holistic and equitable national approach that integrates surveillance into city planning and urban governance. “A balanced model must prioritize spatial justice, ensuring that surveillance technologies do not only serve elite urban centers, but are accessible, regulated, and designed with respect for the rights and dignity of all citizens,” the report emphasizes.