AI's impact on fair competition in elections: an interview with cybersecurity expert Hicham El Amrani
via Le Matin16 min read
Artificial intelligence is profoundly changing information manipulation strategies, especially in electoral contexts. While deepfakes are the most visible threat, they are only part of a much larger and more complex ecosystem. In an electoral or pre-electoral context, the threats posed by digital maliciousness multiply, and the stakes are much more serious. It can serve as a weapon of destabilization, public opinion manipulation, and even foreign interference. As legislative elections approach, Morocco is primarily concerned. Recent examples of digital smear and disinformation campaigns remind us of the need for extreme vigilance. The first risk is audio and video deepfakes. Fake voice recordings, now easy to produce by cloning voices from a few seconds of audio, are particularly concerning. More difficult to detect than doctored videos, they can spread false statements attributed to public figures and sow doubt in a few hours. But the most underestimated threat lies in large-scale automated disinformation. Generative AI now makes it possible to produce thousands of credible fake articles, comments, testimonials, or profiles at a negligible cost. The goal is no longer just to spread a lie but to saturate the information space to make the truth indistinguishable from the false. Added to this are astroturfing, which artificially simulates a popular opinion movement through coordinated account networks, persuasive microtargeting, which customizes messages to influence or demobil
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The development of the Fès logistics zone has commenced with a public investment of 275 million dirhams, a project led by the Moroccan Agency for Logistics Development AMDL in partnership with the Fès-Meknès Regional Council. This 18-month project aims to provide developed plots for logistics activities starting in 2027, addressing the needs of economic operators and supporting the region's development. The first phase will cover 32 hectares, featuring modern warehouses, cold storage facilities, and specialized transport and logistics services. Strategically located on the outskirts of Fès, the zone is expected to serve the logistics needs of the entire Grand Est region of the Kingdom, improve goods flow organization, and strengthen distribution chains. This infrastructure will reduce logistics costs for local businesses, facilitate access to national and international markets, support transport and warehousing activities, and enhance the economic attractiveness of the Fès-Meknès region, drawing new investments. Ghassane El Machrafi, Director General of AMDL, stated that the launch of the first phase is a pivotal step in strengthening national logistics infrastructure, aligning with a strategic vision to support the Fès-Meknès region's economic dynamism. He noted that this initial 32-hectare phase is part of a larger 100-hectare land area, allowing for future expansion based on economic operator needs. AMDL plans to officially begin marketing the project in early 2027, with t
Must ReadMorocco's population is projected to reach 43.3 million by 2060, up from 36.8 million in 2024, according to new demographic projections from the High Commission for Planning HCP. The annual population growth rate is expected to decline from 0.7% in 2024 to almost zero by 2060. The HCP's projections, updated using data from the 2024 General Census of Population and Housing, indicate that the most significant demographic shift will be population aging. The number of Moroccans aged 60 and over is expected to more than double, increasing from 5 million in 2024 to nearly 10.9 million in 2060, representing almost a quarter of the total population. This trend will have substantial implications for public policies, including increased dependency ratios and challenges for pension financing, healthcare, and maintaining family and intergenerational solidarity. The HCP emphasizes that this aging trend is a lasting development, regardless of the scenario. The country will also see a decrease in the number of children due to an anticipated decline in fertility. Preschool enrollment is projected to fall by 23.8%, primary school enrollment by 27%, and lower secondary enrollment by 22.9%. The HCP suggests that this reduction in student numbers could present an opportunity to enhance education quality and learning conditions. Furthermore, the population will continue to concentrate in urban areas, with 32.5 million inhabitants in cities by 2060, while the rural population will decrease to 10.8
Super Typhoon Bavi, an exceptionally intense weather event, serves as a reminder of accelerating global climate change. While this type of typhoon does not directly threaten Morocco, the underlying mechanisms contributing to its development are already impacting the Kingdom through increasingly extreme weather. Mustapha Benrimal, an environmental expert and president of the Al Manarat Écologiques Association, stated to "Assahra Al Maghribia" that climate change is a present reality requiring accelerated adaptation strategies. He explained that rising ocean and atmospheric temperatures provide more energy to tropical cyclones, increasing their power, development speed, and capacity to cause torrential rains and destructive winds. Benrimal views Super Typhoon Bavi as part of a series of extreme phenomena indicating an increasingly unstable climate system, though he cautions against calling it the "most powerful in history" without sufficient scientific basis. For Morocco, the consequences are primarily indirect. The Kingdom is not in a tropical cyclone formation zone but is experiencing the effects of global warming, including heatwaves, persistent droughts, and an increase in violent storms and flash floods. Benrimal advocates for strengthening early warning systems, improving infrastructure resilience, and integrating climate risks into development policies. He also emphasized protecting natural resources and supporting climate-related scientific research and disaster managem