Latest news with #MohammedMehdiBensaid
Ya Biladi
15-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco eyes expansion of audiovisual regulator's role to tackle online content
During a meeting of the Education, Culture, and Communication Committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, called for a comprehensive legal framework to curb the harmful effects of digital platforms. Addressing the proposed expansion of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication's (HACA) powers to include oversight of social media, he stressed the state's responsibility to shield young audiences from the dangers of online content and major tech companies (GAFA: Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon), drawing on international best practices. According to Bensaid, this framework would empower HACA to oversee digital platforms operating in Morocco, even if they lack a physical presence, as long as their content targets Moroccan users or generates revenue from them. The framework would also require platforms to appoint a legal representative and submit regular reports detailing content moderation practices, complaint handling procedures, and statistics on removed or controversial content. Bensaid highlighted the need for a clear definition of what constitutes a digital platform or content-sharing service (such as social media), to subject them to specific legal obligations and better define their relationship with the state. The proposed legislation would mandate the appointment of a legal representative within Moroccan territory, addressing the current legal void that allows foreign platforms to operate without proper oversight. The framework would also introduce a sanction system for non-compliance or lack of cooperation with Moroccan authorities, and require platforms to implement effective content moderation mechanisms. These would include automated systems—algorithms designed to detect and remove illegal content, including violent messages, hate speech, disinformation, and content targeting minors. When it comes to young users, Bensaid said the law would require platforms to take concrete steps to protect minors from harmful or inappropriate content. These include age-based content categorization, the activation of parental controls, bans on ads exploiting minors' vulnerabilities or promoting harmful products, and the removal of content that could damage their psychological or behavioral development. The proposed legal framework would also compel platforms to take swift action against misinformation and illegal content—especially in cases involving incitement to violence, terrorism, or racial, ethnic, or religious hatred. Platforms would be expected to remove such content and cooperate with Moroccan authorities in enforcing HACA's content restriction or blocking decisions. The idea of expanding HACA's regulatory powers to digital content was first raised in 2019, when then-Minister of Culture Mohamed Laaraj supported the move, calling for it to be embedded in an appropriate legal framework. At the time, HACA's public interventions focused on combating online misinformation through media education rather than direct regulation. Discussions back then largely concerned press outlets and audiovisual media governed by the Press Code or Law 77.03, emphasizing their educational role, political plurality, and responsibility in ensuring accurate information. However, the proposal did not move forward, and no bill emerged from the process that satisfied the General Secretariat of the Government (SGG). Sources told Yabiladi at the time that discussions were underway regarding extending HACA's oversight to internet platforms, but they remained at the conceptual stage. Now, Bensaid is advocating for a new legal instrument—one aligned with European digital services legislation—aimed at removing regulatory loopholes and asserting digital sovereignty. He sees these measures as crucial for holding global tech giants accountable and ensuring that they operate under Moroccan jurisdiction.
Maroc
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
Educational Twinning Between Rabat and Baku, Bridge for Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Heritage Preservation
As part of the educational programs developed by the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat, Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Foundation, visited the "Education Complex No. 132–134" secondary school of Baku, involved in an educational twinning project between Rabat and Baku's institutions. This initiative, carried out in partnership with Morocco's Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports; the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication; and Azerbaijan's Ministry of Science and Education as well as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, involves five schools in Rabat and five others in Baku. Through this initiative, the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat reaffirms its commitment to raising youth awareness and education around cultural heritage, by promoting transmission, exchange, and intercultural dialogue in the spirit of the universal values championed by UNESCO. This partnership, grounded in shared values of heritage preservation and knowledge transmission, seeks to raise awareness among young generations in Rabat and Baku about the richness of their cultural heritage, while encouraging intercultural openness through education. The twinning program also aims to foster educational and cultural exchange between the two cities, enabling students to share knowledge and experiences and to build lasting cultural ties. Through collaborative projects and interactive learning experiences, this initiative aspires to deepen mutual understanding of everyone's cultural wealth while promoting global awareness and cooperation. Asked about this ambitious twinning project, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, emphasized the importance of the role played by the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat in preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Kingdom's capital, through a series of actions and initiatives, noting that his department is fully committed to this momentum fostering cultural and educational exchanges. He also noted that this initiative has an international dimension in opening up to cultural programs specific to each country. For her part, the Foundation's Executive Manager, Yousra Aannour, said that this twinning project is part of the 'I discover my heritage' program, recognized by UNESCO as a reference in the field of heritage education, and aims to strengthen the spirit of exchange, understanding and cultural dialogue between young people from Rabat and Baku. This program has been adapted to the Azerbaijani capital as part of the educational twinning project, carried out under a partnership between the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, she added. Educational kits adapted to local realities As part of the 'I discover my heritage' program initiated by the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat, the twinning offers interactive educational kits adapted to the cultural realities of each city. These tools enable students to explore, understand, and value the heritage of their environment through creative, playful, and participatory activities. The pedagogical approaches will be carefully designed to ensure that the kits are accessible and attractive, making complex cultural topics comprehensible for students. As for school deliverables, they will include student presentations showcasing their artistic and literary contributions, reflecting their engagement in discovering cultural heritage. These works will take various forms, such as essays, poetry, visual artworks, and photographic documentation. By building lasting ties between schools of Rabat and Baku, this partnership paves the way for an exemplary and unprecedented model of cooperation, by promoting local heritage while fostering mutual cultural understanding. MAP:07 mai 2025
The Print
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Print
TRENDS pavilion attracts visitors at Rabat International Book Fair 2025
Visitors from diverse age groups and intellectual backgrounds have flocked to explore the centre's latest publications covering topics in politics, economics, and strategic foresight. Rabat [Morocco], April 26 (ANI/WAM): The TRENDS Research and Advisory pavilion at the Rabat International Book Fair 2025 has witnessed a large turnout since the opening day of the event. During his visit to the pavilion, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco's Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, praised the strong and diverse presence at the pavilion. He emphasised that this public interest reflects a growing engagement among Moroccan and Arab audiences in scientific research and strategic thinking. 'The participation of intellectual institutions like TRENDS adds a qualitative dimension to the Rabat Book Fair and reinforces its role as a platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas,' he said. Saqr Al-Suwaidi, researcher and Deputy Head of the TRENDS International Training Institute, expressed his pride in participating in this major cultural event. He noted the enthusiastic response from the fair's audience to TRENDS' publications, highlighting the increasing interest in deep knowledge content and scientifically grounded analysis. He added that this year the TRENDS pavilion features dozens of research and knowledge-based publications in three languages–Arabic, English, and French–covering timely and vital topics related to political, economic and social transformations on both regional and global levels. (ANI/WAM) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Al Etihad
26-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
TRENDS pavilion attracts visitors at the Rabat International Book Fair 2025
26 Apr 2025 11:08 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The TRENDS Research & Advisory pavilion at the Rabat International Book Fair 2025 has witnessed a large turnout since the opening day of the event. Visitors from diverse age groups and intellectual backgrounds have flocked to explore the centre's latest publications covering topics in politics, economics, and strategic his visit to the pavilion, His Excellency Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco's Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, praised the strong and diverse presence at the pavilion. He emphasised that this public interest reflects a growing engagement among Moroccan and Arab audiences in scientific research and strategic thinking. Bensaid added, 'The participation of intellectual institutions like TRENDS adds a qualitative dimension to the Rabat Book Fair and reinforces its role as a platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas.'Saqr Al-Suwaidi, researcher and Deputy Head of the TRENDS International Training Institute expressed his pride in participating in this major cultural event. He noted the enthusiastic response from the fair's audience to TRENDS' publications, highlighting the increasing interest in deep knowledge content and scientifically grounded added that this year the TRENDS pavilion features dozens of research and knowledge-based publications in three languages—Arabic, English, and French—covering timely and vital topics related to political, economic and social transformations on both regional and global the sidelines of its participation, TRENDS is also hosting intellectual dialogues and sessions with a select group of researchers and experts, aiming to foster interaction with the fair's audience and promote knowledge based on sound research. It is worth noting that the Rabat International Book Fair is one of the largest cultural events in Africa and the Arab world. This year, it hosts over 700 exhibitors from around 50 countries. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
