China Regulates Digital Chaos: Morocco Needs a Similar Step
In China, individuals can no longer discuss sensitive topics without clear qualifications. Authorities have implemented new rules requiring influencers who address issues like medicine, law, education, or finance to prove their academic credentials or professional experiences. Major platforms such as Douyin and Weibo are now mandated to verify these qualifications, or they could face fines up to $13,000, approximately 15 million Moroccan dirhams.
The aim of this measure is to combat digital misinformation and protect the public from false information. Beijing has chosen to make competence a fundamental requirement for discussing public matters, as the digital space has transformed from a mere luxury into a battleground where positions are formed and minds are shaped.
In contrast, Morocco is in a different situation. Influencers speak on everything: politics, psychology, family relationships, public affairs. Some present themselves as “analysts” or “experts” without any relevant qualifications or training. Nevertheless, they attract hundreds of thousands of followers and influence public opinion more than institutions or real experts do.
Even more concerning is the fact that some journalists have also fallen into this chaos. They publish without verification, comment without knowledge, and make errors in description and analysis. This results in widespread misinformation and a gradual erosion of public trust in the media.
Moroccan authorities are now called upon to establish a clear legal framework that regulates digital content and imposes professional standards on those addressing sensitive issues. Local platforms must also bear the responsibility of verifying the identities and qualifications of influencers, similar to what is done in China.
Digital freedom does not equate to chaos. Every citizen has the right to express their opinion, but no one has the right to present themselves as an expert in fields they know nothing about. Protecting the digital space from misinformation is a state responsibility and cannot be left to the whims of platforms or the desires of influencers for fame.
Today, Morocco needs a bold step that balances freedom of expression with credibility assurance, as the digital space has become a domain that directly impacts societal awareness and the overall course of public discourse.
