Morocco, TikTok collaborate to tackle online misinformation as potential ban looms

On September 26, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, met with Wael Ezzat, TikTok’s Director of Public Policy for the MENA region, in Rabat to initiate cooperation aimed at combating online misinformation and privacy violations on the platform.

The discussion focused on developing strategies to regulate harmful and illegal content on TikTok, particularly to prevent defamation and protect user privacy.

This meeting comes as Morocco’s Parliament prepares to revisit discussions in October regarding a potential ban on TikTok, spurred by concerns over its influence on societal values, especially among youth.

While addressing these challenges is a priority, Bensaid emphasized the importance of balancing regulation with the protection of freedom of expression, a right enshrined in Morocco’s Constitution and affirmed by international treaties.

The goal is to ensure that platforms like TikTok foster a diversity of opinions while curbing harmful behaviors.

Both Bensaid and Ezzat agreed to continue their collaboration, committing to find practical solutions that promote a safer online community.

This initiative aligns with the Moroccan government’s broader efforts to encourage responsible social media use and foster serious, respectful public discourse.

As Parliament reopens in October, discussions will focus on a potential ban of TikTok due to concerns about its influence on Moroccan youth and societal values.

The Education Committee plans to revive a previously proposed bill to outlaw the platform, prompted by increasing public worries about the content available on the site. This issue, which had stalled earlier, has gained renewed attention following recent criticisms.

If enacted, Morocco would join several countries, including some in the Arab region, that have already banned TikTok over similar concerns. The upcoming legislative session is expected to feature heated debates about balancing social norms with the growing influence of digital media.

The collaboration reflects Morocco’s commitment to safeguarding the opinions of its citizens in the digital age while tackling harmful online phenomena and upholding the right to free expression.