Faced with the growing dangers linked to the unsupervised use of social networks by young people, the parliamentary group for progress and socialism in the House of Representatives, chaired by Rachid Hamounipresented a bill to establish a digital legal age, an essential measure to protect the privacy and rights of minors on the Internet. The presentation note for this bill highlights the growing exposure of children to the risks inherent in the digital world. The collection and use of their personal dataoften without informed consent, leaves them vulnerable to exploitation, cyberbullying and other dangers. Faced with this reality, the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) proposes the definition of a minimum legal age for the use of social networks without parental or guardian authorization. For the party, this is a crucial legislative response to ensure the safety and well-being of young users.
The bill suggests restricting the access of minors under 16 to social networks. Parental consent would then become mandatory for any use of their personal data. According to the explanatory note, this age is considered suitable for the education of Moroccan children, making it possible to reconcile the benefits of positive digital engagement and the guarantees of adequate protection. The note recalls that several countries have legislated in this direction to protect young users of digital platforms, with varying minimum ages: 16 years in Germany, Ireland and Australia, 15 years in France and Italy, 14 years in China and South Korea. South, and 13 years in Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States.
What is the digital legal age?
In its first article, the bill defines the digital legal age as “the age at which people, in particular children, can give their consent in a legal, informed and independent manner, without needing the agreement of parents or guardians, for the use of their personal data by communication service providers and digital service providers, including social networks.
Beyond simple regulation, this initiative is intended to be a real call for collective responsibility. It aims to raise awareness among both parents and children of the dangers of digital technology at all costs, while establishing a clear legal framework for technology companies. “The main objective of this measure is to protect children from the risks linked to access to the digital environment, in particular the exploitation of their personal data, harassment, cyberharassment, exposure to inappropriate content, as well as than other dangers. Therefore, digital platforms will have to obtain explicit consent from parents or guardians before processing the personal data of children below the legal digital age,” underlines the text submitted to the office of the House of Representatives. “In addition, determining a legal age for access to digital services should strengthen the digital responsibility of children and encourage them to use their personal data in an informed and careful manner,” insists the document.
A strengthened role for the CNDP
The explanatory note also underlines the fundamental role of the National Commission for the Control of the Protection of Personal Data (CNDP) in the implementation of modernized legislation for the protection of minors' data. It also highlights the importance of the CNDP's mission, focused on information, awareness, advice, proposals, as well as legal and technological monitoring, as specified by the PPS group.
If adopted, this bill would constitute a major step forward in protecting the rights of children in their relationship with the digital world, ensuring a safer online environment that is more respectful of ethical and legal rules.
