HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
In a new development related to cyber defamation crimes and the publication of false news, a "Facebook user" is appearing before the Court of First Instance in Agadir, following prosecution in a regular misdemeanor file that includes charges related to broadcasting and distributing false allegations and facts via social media, with the aim of harming the private lives of individuals and defaming them, in addition to insulting public officials during the performance of their duties.
According to the judicial summons document, the case was legally classified based on the provisions of the Moroccan Penal Code, following complaints and data related to online activity through Facebook pages and accounts under pseudonyms. The circulating data indicates that the person in question had previously published posts and news described as false and offensive against elements and security interests belonging to the Agadir Security Directorate, which prompted the competent authorities to open legal proceedings on the matter, as publications targeting the judicial police in the Ait Melloul security zone were previously circulated. Observers believe that this case reflects the strictness of the judicial and security authorities in confronting digital crimes, especially those related to cyber defamation and the undermining of the reputation of institutions and individuals via social media platforms, in light of the increasing use of fake accounts and pseudonyms to publish unreliable data or accusations that affect private life and the prestige of institutions. In the same context, Moroccan laws confirm that freedom of expression remains constitutionally guaranteed, but it is restricted by respecting the law and not infringing on the rights of others or publishing false news or allegations that affect individuals and institutions without evidence or reliable data.
