Morocco’s Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a two-day training programme in Fez to help judicial officials understand how artificial intelligence can support criminal investigations while protecting human rights.
Table Of Content
Organised with support from the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), the training began on Monday and focuses on the opportunities and risks of using artificial intelligence in criminal justice.
Speaking at the opening session, Hicham Belaoui, King’s Attorney General at the Court of Cassation and head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, said that understanding artificial intelligence requires more than knowing its technical capabilities. He stressed the need to recognise its limits and establish clear ethical safeguards.
Belaoui highlighted the growing impact of AI on criminal justice, particularly in relation to the right to defence, privacy and the right to a fair trial. He noted that AI tools can help authorities detect criminal activity, identify fraud and facilitate investigations. However, their use also raises legal and ethical concerns that judicial institutions must address.
He added that these developments require prosecutors to understand both the benefits and the risks of AI, especially when fundamental rights and freedoms are at stake.
Balancing AI Innovation with Human Rights
The training examines how AI can improve crime prevention, detection and investigation while ensuring that its use complies with the rule of law and international human rights standards.
Its framework draws on several international instruments, including UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s AI Principles adopted in 2019, and the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, adopted in 2024.
The programme aims to strengthen prosecutors’ knowledge of AI applications in criminal justice and improve their ability to assess the impact of these technologies on individual rights and procedural safeguards.
It also examines the role of judicial authorities in supervising and monitoring AI use, while encouraging participants to exchange experiences and discuss practical challenges linked to technology-related crimes.
Two-Day Programme Focuses on Practical Challenges
The first day introduces participants to the basic concepts of artificial intelligence, relevant international standards and the human rights concerns associated with its use in criminal justice.
The second day focuses on practical workshops addressing the challenges of applying AI in crime prevention and investigation.
Particular attention will be given to personal data protection, privacy, physical integrity, procedural safeguards, human oversight and accountability.
Samir Marmouri, representing DCAF, said the initiative supports Morocco’s efforts to strengthen governance in the justice sector and develop judicial officials’ skills. He described artificial intelligence as a major issue requiring careful attention, particularly in light of human rights obligations.
Part of Morocco’s Judicial Training Strategy
The programme forms part of the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s initiative to strengthen judges’ human rights expertise, launched in 2020. It also supports the institution’s 2026–2028 strategic plan, particularly its second strategic priority, which focuses on protecting rights and freedoms.
According to Belaoui, the training is part of a wider series of sessions planned across Morocco to address the growing impact of artificial intelligence on society and the justice system.
As AI becomes increasingly relevant to law enforcement and criminal proceedings, the initiative seeks to help judicial officials assess its potential while ensuring that technological progress does not undermine fundamental rights.
- Source: MAP