Share on

Morocco is in the spotlight again, preparing to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)—scheduled from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026—alongside its future role as a co-host for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. While planning unfolds, concerns are rising over a parallel development: the rapid expansion of AI-powered surveillance infrastructure across Moroccan cities.

In May 2025, we published a detailed report, “Morocco’s Surveillance Infrastructure Expands Ahead of the Africa Cup and World Cup,” documenting the growing use of facial recognition systems and other biometric technologies in public spaces such as Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech. The report highlighted how these systems are framed as tools for public safety, despite lacking robust data protection legislation, clear regulatory frameworks, public consultation, and oversight of private surveillance providers.

These technologies raise serious concerns around privacy, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly. With major international events approaching, the stakes are even higher: Morocco’s global image depends not only on modern infrastructure and secure stadiums, but also on upholding its commitments to fundamental rights—both offline and online.

A Public Kept in the Dark

Despite the deployment of these technologies, the Moroccan public remains largely uninformed about their scope, governance, and impact on civil liberties. In March 2025, the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP) announced plans to hold public hearings on the use of facial recognition technologies. As of June, however, no findings from these hearings have been published. It remains unclear whether they took place, or if any recommendations have been issued.

In response to this opacity, Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR) sent an open letter to the CNDP seeking urgent clarity on the legal and ethical safeguards (or lack thereof) surrounding the use of such technologies.

We raised six key questions:

  • Has your committee held the public hearings announced in March 2025? If so, will the findings be published openly?
  •  Are there any draft regulations currently being prepared or reviewed regarding the use of surveillance and facial recognition systems?
  • Does the committee intend to impose a ban or restrictions on the use of facial recognition technologies in public spaces, given their sensitivity—similar to the 7-month suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  •  Has a comprehensive human rights impact assessment and data protection evaluation been conducted for these systems?
  • What safeguards are in place to prevent misuse or abuse of these technologies by the authorities tasked with their deployment?
  • What is the committee’s role in monitoring private companies supplying surveillance technologies to ensure compliance with data protection and human rights standards? Are there accountability mechanisms if violations of national or international standards are proven?


We gave the CNDP until 20 May 2025 to respond. As of the time of publishing this post, no response has been received. 

What’s at Stake

SIHR emphasizes that the adoption of surveillance technologies must be subject to public scrutiny, legal clarity, and robust accountability mechanisms. The absence of transparency not only undermines public trust but also increases the risk of rights abuses—especially for marginalized and at-risk communities. We urge the CNDP and relevant Moroccan authorities to respond to our questions and engage in a genuine, inclusive public dialogue about the role of surveillance in a democratic society.

Given the high stakes—both in terms of privacy rights and Morocco’s international credibility—we believe it is crucial for the authorities to demonstrate transparency and accountability in how surveillance is being deployed and governed.

The full text of Skyline’s open letter to the CNDP is available in English here and in Arabic here. 

Post tags: Morocco, Artificial Intelligence, Facial recognition, FIFA World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations,