Morocco to Deactivate Anonymous SIM Cards in Cybercrime Crackdown

A "three-month deadline has been set to have all the information proving the identity of a subscriber in the database, failing which the operator concerned is required to cancel and deactivate the telephone card in question," Mezzour said during a session at the House of Representatives.

"We have powerful security bodies in Morocco that are following this issue, and all the measures that will be taken in the coming period will protect Moroccan society, so there is no need to fear these anonymous cards," the minister further reassured, recalling the rules and procedures governing the sector in Morocco.

A deputy from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) group, however, denounced the non-implementation of the decision of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency to deactivate anonymous SIM cards, taken several years ago, stressing that these cards continue to be used by their owners for fraud and scams.

The parliamentarian called on the government to take firm measures to cancel these anonymous cards still in service in order to guarantee digital and communication security and strengthen the fight against cybercrime in Morocco.