Investigation by Express TV Reveals Funded Propaganda War: How Foreign Media Attempted to Amplify “Generation Z” Protests in Morocco
In the aftermath of attempts to capitalize on the protests dubbed “Generation Z Movement,” following chaos and unrest in some cities and the arrest of dozens involved in arson and vandalism, calm has returned to Moroccan streets. Peaceful protests with legitimate social demands continued within a framework of discipline and responsibility, while the hopes of certain entities to escalate them into organized chaos and destabilize the country fell short.
In this investigation, Express TV unveils the other side of a media war led by foreign Arabic-speaking platforms that mobilized funded and targeted content to mislead public opinion, presenting limited protests as a “youth revolution” in a blatant attempt to pressure Morocco and distort its image both domestically and internationally.
TRT Arabic’s Misleading Funded Coverage
The investigation revealed that TRT Arabic, the official Arabic section of Turkey’s state broadcaster, is known for its alignment with Turkish state policies. It targets a wide Arab audience through its digital platforms and employs media strategies and funded content to expand its reach to specific audiences in the Arab region according to political agendas. The channel broadcast a series of videos and posts, notably a promotional video on its official Facebook page, where it claimed that Moroccan police used “excessive force” to disperse youth protests. This video did not only spread allegations but was promoted through a funded advertising campaign, marked in Facebook’s Ad Library as a post directed at users in Morocco and the MENA region. The geographical and temporal targeting coincided with peak engagement, raising suspicions of intentional coordination to exacerbate the discussion and amplify the incident, thereby influencing Moroccan and Arab public opinion.
Arab21’s Involvement in the Campaign
The newspaper Arab21, founded in 2010 and funded by Qatari entities, operates from London, offering news and political content in Arabic. Known for its inclination to publish controversial political materials, it attracts a broad Arab readership, especially those interested in political and human rights issues. The site also utilizes funded advertising campaigns targeting specific audiences in the Arab region. According to Express TV’s investigation, Arab21 took part in a suspicious funded campaign, publishing nine videos in a short time during this period, aimed at creating the impression of a “revolution” in Morocco.
The videos published by the paper included misleading content and targeted headlines, employing unrelated footage from other protests that were re-packaged to fit the narrative. The paper focused on promoting the idea of a significant public uprising against the state. An analysis conducted by Express TV on Meta’s Ad Library indicated that Arab21’s posts directly targeted Moroccan users, in a clear attempt to impose a single narrative on the local and international digital landscape.
Participation of Notable Figures
The investigation by Express TV also noted the involvement of Yemeni journalist Tawakkol Karman, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate known for her political activism, particularly during the Arab Spring revolutions. She was among the media tools used to sow chaos in several Arab countries. Interestingly, Karman’s Facebook account is managed by ten people from different countries, indicating that she has become merely a tool driven by others. She posted dozens of tweets and short clips promoting the same misleading narrative, often relying on old footage or content taken out of context, with some posts claiming that protesters were closing in on the royal palace, while others mentioned million-strong marches in the streets.
Fake Accounts and Electronic Flies
The investigation also revealed a network of fake accounts designed to interact with and disseminate misleading content, claiming to be Moroccan. These accounts used local dialects and images of fake figures to create a false sense of credibility, generating an impression that public opinion was heated and engaged.
Among the tactics used by these accounts, as highlighted in Express TV’s investigation, were the dissemination of false stories and incidents to incite citizens against the state, the purchase of followers and management software to promote content simultaneously, and the re-sharing of fabricated narratives on seemingly local pages to mislead public opinion.
Figures Revealing a Huge Budget
After conducting the investigative report and technical research with the help of an expert in digital marketing, it was revealed that the advertising costs for such political campaigns in just one week surpassed $200,000 to cover promotions, video production, campaign management, and the purchase of fake engagement. After examining the content types, it was confirmed that the use of precise targeting tools turned the campaign into a systematic influence operation, rather than a spontaneous news campaign.
Campaign Failure and Community Awareness
Despite the extensive organization and substantial budgets allocated for the foreign media campaign against Morocco, these efforts failed to achieve their objectives. The Moroccan society demonstrated a clear ability to distinguish between real and misleading news, with independent and governmental local media playing a crucial role in revealing fake content, correcting distorted narratives, and countering malicious campaigns aimed at destabilizing and sowing chaos. Many local newspapers, including Express TV, dedicated significant resources to field verification of facts, clarifying reports, and media initiatives that accurately documented events, preventing the spread of misinformation and reducing the impact of fake accounts and networks.
The success of this approach reflects the resilience of Moroccan public opinion and the adaptability of its media institutions in confronting external influence attempts. It underscores the country’s ability to maintain stability and a genuine, transparent image before both domestic and foreign audiences. Although these digital campaigns targeting Morocco have failed at a sensitive time, this experience serves as a test of external influence capabilities and highlights the need for robust national mechanisms to monitor cross-border political advertising and unveil networks of fake accounts before they create a false public opinion. Additionally, it underscores the necessity to support and strengthen local citizen journalism, which today serves as a defensive shield on the front lines.
