At the 8th Francophone Network of Media Regulators (REFRAM) conference in Dakar on January 27, Latifa Akharbach, president of Morocco’s High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), called for increased accountability from digital platforms regarding content moderation and user protection. She warned that recent shifts in digital content management could lead to global risks, particularly for African users.
Key Remarks at the Conference
Urgent Need for Accountability
Akharbach emphasized the growing urgency for digital platforms to take concrete responsibility for moderating content and protecting users. She expressed concern over the relaxation of content moderation rules and the abandonment of professional fact-checking systems by major platforms, particularly in the United States. She warned that this trend could eventually affect global content moderation standards.
Risks to African Users
The HACA president voiced particular concern about the impact on African users. She highlighted how platforms’ economic interests and local political pressures might compromise user rights in certain regions, stressing the need for better representation and more resources allocated to moderation, especially in local languages.
International Stance on Digital Platforms
Akharbach’s remarks aligned with the views of Morocco’s Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, who has previously called for stricter regulations to address social media’s societal impact and protect citizens’ privacy. Both the Francophone and African networks of media regulators have urged digital platforms to take stronger actions against disinformation and reduce their double-standards policies.
Leadership Transition at REFRAM
The conference concluded with a leadership transition, with Roch-Olivier Maistre of France’s Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority handing over the presidency of REFRAM to Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye of Senegal’s CNRA. Mohamed Abdallahi Lahbib of Mauritania’s High Authority for Press and Audiovisual was elected vice-president.
About HACA
Founded in 2002 by royal decree, HACA is Morocco’s independent regulatory body for audiovisual communication, ensuring pluralism, diversity, and freedom of expression in the media sector. In October 2024, HACA approved the creation of four new public sports television channels to expand Morocco’s national audiovisual landscape.
