RAJA KHAYRAT

Morocco — Children are increasingly exposed to digital violence, making it necessary to provide them with protection without depriving them of internet access, and to shield them from all forms of harm such as cyberbullying, extortion, harassment, and the unauthorized publication of their images.

Sofia El Bazzaz, a researcher in international law and artificial intelligence, believes that discussions about protecting children from digital violence are no longer confined to debates over the safe use of technology, but have become directly linked to the ability of states and societies to protect children's rights amid the transformations the world is undergoing as a result of digitalization.

This is especially true given that children no longer interact solely within a physical space, but have become part of a digital environment that shapes their psychological, social, and cultural development — which requires rethinking the very concept of protection so that it is no longer limited to real-world safety, but extends to cover everything that could threaten a child within the digital environment.

She added that digital violence refers to any act or behavior carried out through digital media that harms a child's safety, dignity, privacy, or healthy development — whether through electronic extortion, online grooming and sexual exploitation, the publication of images and personal data without consent, hate speech, or exposing children to content unsuitable for their age. These practices may leave no physical trace, but they can produce deep psychological and social effects that persist for years.

A Cross-Border Phenomenon

Regarding the seriousness of this phenomenon, El Bazzaz said that the danger lies not only in its prevalence but also in its cross-border nature, since the perpetrator may be in one country, the victim in another, and the platform used based in a third — meaning that protecting children from digital violence requires legal and institutional cooperation that transcends national borders, especially since the digital space, by its nature, does not recognize geographic boundaries.

She stressed that international indicators show this is no longer a matter of isolated cases. According to the United Nations, more than a third of children and young people in thirty countries have experienced cyberbullying, and one in five children misses school due to the psychological effects of such violence — at a time when statistics indicate that children make up nearly a third of internet users worldwide. This explains the growing attention international organizations, foremost among them UNICEF and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, are giving to protecting children in the digital environment, viewing it as a natural extension of the rights children enjoy offline.

She noted that in Morocco, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council addressed this issue through its advisory opinion titled "Towards an Inclusive Digital Environment that Protects Children," which affirmed that benefiting from technology must go hand in hand with providing the legal, educational, and technical safeguards needed to protect children. The council also recommended integrating digital literacy into educational curricula, strengthening the accountability of digital platforms, and developing national legislation to keep pace with technology's rapid evolution.

Empowering Children Instead of Restricting Them

El Bazzaz considers the first step toward protecting children to be shifting from a culture of prohibition to a culture of empowerment, since a child raised with sound digital literacy will be better equipped to protect themselves than a child who is simply barred from using technology without acquiring the tools needed to handle it once they do get the chance. The real focus, she argues, should be on building digital awareness rather than imposing restrictions.

She also called on families to move today from a role of surveillance to one that offers trust and open dialogue, since most children who experience bullying or extortion prefer to stay silent out of fear of punishment or of having their devices taken away — while numerous studies have shown that consistent communication between parents and children significantly reduces the likelihood that a child will continue to endure violence without asking for help.

She explained that the role of educational institutions is no less important than that of the family, since schools are no longer tasked only with transmitting knowledge but also with preparing digitally literate citizens aware of their rights and duties. This requires incorporating digital education into school curricula so children develop critical thinking skills, learn to protect their personal data, and use social media and AI applications — now part of their daily lives — responsibly.

She added that digital platforms cannot be absolved of responsibility either, since the same technology that allows them to analyze user behavior and suggest content and ads can also be used for early detection of bullying, exploitation, and extortion. This calls for strengthening their legal and ethical responsibility in protecting children, since technology must be part of the solution, not a factor that deepens the problem.

Building a Safe Digital Environment

She affirmed that tackling digital violence cannot be achieved through the efforts of a single party, but requires integration among families, educational institutions, public authorities, civil society, and technology companies, since protecting children in the digital age has become a shared responsibility requiring coordinated efforts and public policies grounded in prevention, awareness, legal protection, and psychological and social support.

El Bazzaz concluded by saying that the real challenge today is not keeping children away from the digital world, since that is no longer a realistic option, but rather creating a safer digital environment that allows them to benefit from technology's enormous potential while ensuring their rights are respected, their dignity preserved, and they are protected from all forms of violence and exploitation — because a child who feels safe in the digital environment is a child more capable of learning, creating, and contributing positively to building the future.