Egypt Policies Affecting Disinformation

Legislation

Egypt's Law 180 of 2018 Regulating the Press and Media treats any social media with over 5,000 followers as a media outlet, allowing the Egyptian government to penalize them under existing media regulations.^[1]^[2] Under the 2018 Law No. 175 on Anti-Cybercrime, Egyptian investigators can block or suspend any websites featuring content that is considered, "threatening to national security or the national economy"^[3] There are laws which allow for prosecution of those who are perceived as disseminating "fake news".^[4] These measures are seen as restrictions on free speech. Egypt has no press freedom, and has the highest number of detained journalists on "false news" charges in the world with 19 and has high levels of censorship on online content.^[5]^[6]

In 2019 Egypt's top media regulator put in new restrictions which permit the Supreme Media Regulatory Council to block websites and accounts that are considered “fake news,” as well as impose penalties of up to 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($14,400), without requiring a court order.^[7]

Enforcement

The Egyptian authorities enforce the above legislation by forcing media outlets who post news the government considers false to pay a fine there have been arrests and detention of individuals who authorities accused of spreading false news on social media.^[8]

See More

National Policies Affecting Disinformation

[1] ttps://www.wsj.com/articles/egypt-passes-law-to-regulate-media-as-president-sisi-consolidates-power-1531769232

[2] ttps://www.loc.gov/law/help/social-media-disinformation/egypt.php

[3] ttps://www.loc.gov/law/help/social-media-disinformation/egypt.php#_ftn11

[4] ttps://apnews.com/article/1540f1133267485db356db1e58db985b

[5] ttps://freedomhouse.org/country/egypt/freedom-world/2020

[6] ttps://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2018/egypt-is-jailing-more-journalists-on-false-news-charges-than-anywhere-else-in-the-world/

[7] ttps://apnews.com/article/1540f1133267485db356db1e58db985b

[8] ttps://www.loc.gov/law/help/social-media-disinformation/egypt.php#_ftn11

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