Cybersecurity at the Heart of Digital Transformation: Minister Amlah Slahrouni Warns of Risks Posed by Platform Expansion Without Legal Framework
Amlah Slahrouni, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Public Administration Reform, confirmed that cybersecurity has become a strategic pillar for the development of digital platforms in Morocco, serving as a key guarantee to enhance citizens’ trust and ensure fair competition in the national market. She warned that the expansion of these platforms without a regulated legal framework could threaten digital sovereignty and the protection of personal data.
This statement was made during her address at the international conference organized by the Competition Council on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in Marrakech, titled “Digital Platforms: Evolving Professions and Competitive Challenges.”
Slahrouni explained that Morocco is currently undergoing a profound digital transformation that is reshaping the relationship between citizens and the administration and affecting value chains in production and consumption patterns. She noted that the national strategy “Digital Morocco 2030” is based on four main pillars: developing digital skills and innovation, enhancing cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence, strengthening cybersecurity, and broadening internet access.
She highlighted that the government aims to extend internet coverage to over 5 million households, including 25% via the fifth-generation network by 2026, alongside covering 1,800 rural areas under the second version of the national high-speed internet plan.
The minister revealed that Morocco has become one of the most targeted countries for cyberattacks, recording over 12.6 million hacking attempts during 2024, which, according to her, necessitates bolstering the digital protection system and curbing practices that threaten cybersecurity and sovereignty.
She announced the preparation of a specific law project for digital services, in partnership with the National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data and the General Directorate for Information Systems Security, aimed at establishing a responsible legal framework for regulating platforms and algorithms. Slahrouni added that Morocco organized its first national symposium on artificial intelligence, which concluded with a national roadmap based on responsible governance and promoting research and innovation.
In this context, Slahrouni pointed out that the data center project in Dakhla, with a capacity of 6 megawatts, will enhance the kingdom’s position as a digital hub in Africa and the Arab world by 2030. She also mentioned Morocco’s engagement in major international programs supported by the United Nations, including the WE-ABET program aimed at strengthening the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises run by women and youth.
The minister recalled the royal directives presented by King Mohammed VI in a 2022 speech before African finance ministers and central bank governors in Marrakech, emphasizing that digitization represents a structural transformation that opens new horizons for development and job creation, requiring investment in infrastructure and human skill development.
In conclusion, the minister affirmed that “digital platforms are no longer just spaces for content exchange, but have become an economic and social structure impacting the course of development and democracy,” stressing that their development must occur within a framework of transparency, accountability, and data protection, and that the success of this national endeavor depends on partnerships, scientific research, and supporting innovation to achieve comprehensive and sustainable digital development.
