HIBAPRESS – Shafiq Anouri
The Moroccan Association for the Defense of Consumer Rights has sounded the alarm regarding the growing phenomenon of installing cameras in unauthorized locations, demanding that local authorities intervene to protect the private lives of individuals.
Ali Shtour, president of the association, which operates under the umbrella of the Moroccan University of Consumer Rights, said in a statement to "HIBAPRESS" that cameras have spread in a worrying manner "inside some residential complexes, and in front of the doors of apartments and private homes, which constitutes a clear infringement on the private lives of individuals and the comfort of families within their personal spaces." Shtour added that the consumer's right "is not limited to purchasing a safe good or service, but extends to include the right to protect their privacy and safety, which is a basic principle stipulated by Law No. 31.08 relating to consumer protection measures, by emphasizing the need to respect human dignity and not expose the consumer to any infringement of their basic rights." He continued: "However, addressing this type of violation goes beyond the scope of the consumer protection law and falls under other provisions, the most important of which is Law No. 09.08 relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data, which prohibits the photographing or recording of any person without their consent, and punishes any illegal use of images or recordings that infringe on private life." He explained that "Article 447 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which criminalizes anyone who photographs, records, or broadcasts images of people in private places without their consent, and punishes them with imprisonment and a fine," stressing the need for local authorities and personal data protection services to intervene to stop these illegal practices." Shtour also pointed out that the authorities are also required to "invite the residents to respect the limits of camera surveillance and not use them in places that infringe on the private lives of neighbors, while strengthening community awareness about the citizen's right to privacy as part of consumer and social security." The president of the Moroccan Association for the Defense of Consumer Rights stressed at the conclusion of his statement to "HIBAPRESS" that "consumer protection is not limited to monitoring prices and the quality of services, but also includes protecting his dignity and his right to live in a safe environment that respects his privacy."
