El Hafidi: The Networked Society Has Given Rise to Alternative Media That Requires a Legal Approach to Curb Defamation and Fake News
A meeting was held on Saturday, April 19, at booth A28 during the International Book and Publishing Fair, as part of a series of interactive sessions organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Justice, focusing on the topic of new media and the right to access information.
Professor of Public Law at Hassan I University, Ihsan El Hafidi, and a member of the Moroccan Observatory for Combatting Defamation and Blackmail, delivered a talk titled “The Networked Society, New Media, and the Challenges of Combatting Fake News.”
El Hafidi noted that the emergence of the concept of a networked society has brought forth media challenges primarily linked to alternative media, which operates through digital platforms and social media.
He explained that the growing relationship between technology and communication tools has enabled new media to surpass the traditional model, transforming the audience from a passive recipient into an active participant who interacts with news, even reinterpreting and sharing it according to their own understanding.
However, he warned of the risks posed by this new media environment, chiefly the rise of negative phenomena such as defamation, the spread of falsehoods, and violations of privacy, asserting that these threats jeopardize social peace and trust in institutions.
El Hafidi affirmed that these deviations necessitate a new legal approach that can keep pace with this transformation and set clear boundaries between freedom of expression and abusive practices.
This meeting is part of a broader discussion regarding Law 31.13 concerning the right to access information and the role of new media in enhancing legal and rights awareness among Moroccan citizens.
