Latest news with #HighAuthorityforAudiovisualCommunication
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Morocco World
Taxis vs Ride-Sharing Apps: Morocco Pledges Reforms for Modern Transport System
Rabat – Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has responded to concerns about the ongoing, delicate challenges prompted by constant clashes between taxis and ride-sharing apps in Morocco. Efforts are ongoing to develop a new system for taxis, Laftit announced on Monday, noting that studies are being conducted to modernize the transport sector. Laftit's made the statement in response to MPs'' questions during a parliament session at the House of Representatives, where the minister stressed that the current taxi system is 'no longer sustainable and must be developed to meet the challenges.' He pledged a modern approach with technologies to tackle the situation, noting that the goal of a similar project is to establish a system that responds to the requirements of the current phase and meets citizens' aspirations without harming those working in the sector. Laftit's remarks come amid an ongoing delicate situation marked by constant clashes between taxis and ride-sharing applications, especially In-Drive. Over the past months, several reports and viral videos have documented the clashes between taxi drivers and ride-sharing app drivers. One of the latest incidents took place in December last year. Videos and eyewitness accounts of the clash documented scenes of physical violence (notably an exchange of punches and kicks) and verbal abuse. The incident began when taxi drivers chased a ride-sharing driver through the streets of Rabat, converging reports indicated, adding that the chase started when the ride-sharing driver picked up a passenger at Agdal train station. Many similar incidents have taken place over the years, dividing opinions across Morocco. Some have called on the Moroccan government to set up clear regulations overseeing ride-sharing applications operating in Morocco. In May, minister Laftit warned taxi drivers, stressing that any attempt to stop drivers working for ride-sharing apps by individuals or groups outside the competent legal authorities should be punished by law. Laftit also acknowledged that using private cars to transport people through apps without licenses is illegal, pledging that security forces are actively working to handle the situation. In March, professional taxi unions asked Morocco's High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) to end broadcasting an in-Drive advertisement oin public television channels, like 2M. The unions argued that the decision to air promotional content for inDrive is a flagrant violation of national laws, especially since the ride-sharing application operates without proper licensing in Morocco. It remains to be seen whether Morocco's new project will tackle the ongoing saga between the two taxi drivers and ride-sharing applications, with the goal of appeasing both sides while above all ensuring the comfort of residents and citizens. Tags: indriveMoroccan Taxis
Ya Biladi
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
2M's World Cup segment not political advertising, says Morocco's audiovisual authority
The High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) has dismissed complaints filed by three opposition parties concerning a segment aired on 2M about the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Following its meeting on May 8, the Superior Council of Audiovisual Communication concluded that the broadcast did not contain any elements of prohibited or political advertising. The complaints—lodged by the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), the Popular Movement (MP), and the Justice and Development Party (PJD)—claimed that the segment linked the upcoming World Cup to specific government programs, thereby amounting to political promotion. They argued that the content featured electoral messaging that could be perceived as endorsing the executive's accomplishments. In its decision, announced on May 16, HACA stated that the segment did not include any political or financial endorsements of individuals or parties. Instead, it highlighted «citizen engagement around social projects of national interest», without any explicit or implicit reference to a political entity through visual elements (such as symbols, logos, or colors) or auditory cues. «The content in question refers to various social programs. After review, it appears these initiatives are part of national projects launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and implemented by successive governments over different periods. These programs have already been widely announced and covered in the media», HACA noted in its official communiqué. Therefore, the Council ruled that the segment did not meet the criteria for advertising under Article 2.1 of Law No. 77.03, nor those of prohibited political advertising as defined by Article 2.3 of the same law.
Morocco World
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
HACA Pushes for Ethical, More Balanced Portrayal of Women in Moroccan News Media
Rabat – Morocco's High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) has taken a new step toward subverting outdated portrayals of women in news content. On April 29, the institution released a short awareness video on the representation of women in Moroccan news, exploring issues of civic equality and democratic inclusion that still stubbornly persist. Presented during a workshop in Rabat, the video forms part of HACA's broader effort to reshape the way women appear across TV, radio, and other online platforms in Morocco. More than just a campaign, the initiative poses an urgent question: Why do Moroccan newsrooms still struggle to fully embrace the country's diverse female voices? The event brought together a wide mix of actors and stakeholders, from members of HACA's governing council to parliamentarians, human rights advocates, government officials, and editors from public and private broadcasters. Journalists sat next to civil society activists and digital specialists to ponder the same problem: how to break the persistent patterns that either erase women from the news or box them into reductive, symbolic roles. Those around the table agreed: news is not neutral. When women appear less often, or only in limited contexts, the media helps reinforce outdated norms. That silence carries consequences, not just for individual women, but for democratic life as a whole. A free pass cannot fully serve its public if it does not reflect it. Time to change who tells the news In his opening remarks, HACA Director General Benaissa Asloun invited participants to think about how the media shapes public thinking. He pointed out that small shifts in editorial decisions could lead to broader change, especially as Morocco continues its debate over reforming the Family Code. HACA President Latifa Akharbach provided more concrete evidence. Drawing on the institution's participation in the Global Media Monitoring Project, she shared data that exposed deep imbalances in who appears on screen and how stories are framed. She noted that women's voices often disappear in stories of political and economic relevance, while men continue to dominate expert commentary. For Akharbach, the new video is part of a long-term strategy to ground media regulation in human rights. By circulating the video on social media, HACA hopes to reach audiences beyond formal institutions and invite the public to take part in rethinking the role of women in media. The conversations at the workshop did not aim to assign blame but to build common ground. Everyone present recognized that more inclusive reporting does not come from checklists of slogans, but begins with awareness, intention, and a willingness to listen. Still no women at the top A 2025 study led by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and Oxford University notes a persistent gender imbalance at the highest levels of news leadership. Analyzing 240 major news outlets, online and offline, across 12 countries on five continents, researchers found that only 27% of the 171 top editors are women. This stands in sharp contrast to the broader workforce, where women make up roughly 40% of journalists. Even among newly appointed editors in 2024 and 2025, women accounted for just 27%, a marginal increase from the 24% reported in 2024. The findings point to the disheartening global trend that men continue to dominate editorial leadership, even in countries where women represent the majority of working journalists. Representation varies widely, from a meager 7% in South Korea to a relatively higher 46% in the UK. The research underlines entrenched dynamics within the media industry itself, where internal structures and career progression paths remain largely unyielding to gender parity. Despite years of data, debate, and awareness campaigns, the leadership gap remains stubbornly wide. The question is no longer whether women belong in top editorial roles, but when the industry will finally act on what it already knows. How much longer must these conversations circle before real structural change takes root, and when will women's inclusion stop being a goal and start becoming a norm?
