Egypt plans tougher online regulations despite existing cybercrime law

As if the witch hunt against independent news websites and fact-checking services such as Matsda2sh and Mada Masr over the past three weeks were not enough, the government appears to be preparing a new Digital Safety Law alongside proposed amendments to the Penal Code that would increase fines for crimes involving rumours and false news.

The proposals follow what the Cabinet described as a review of measures to address harmful practices on social media.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet reviewed in its weekly meeting a report outlining recommendations by a committee formed under Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s Decree No. 2417 of 2026 to examine legislative and technical measures to address harmful online practices and safeguard Egyptian family values and social cohesion.

The report proposed establishing a national digital safety framework to strengthen the state's role in regulating the digital environment, overseeing platforms and managing systemic risks associated with their activities.

A key recommendation is to strengthen the technical capacities of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), the Supreme Council for Media Regulation and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to monitor and respond to violating online content.

Under the proposals, the NTRA's Content Unit, which currently serves as the state's channel for dealing with digital platforms and implementing removal and blocking decisions issued by the media regulator, courts and other authorities, would be developed into a fully integrated national technical centre.

The centre would use automated systems to monitor violations and identify those responsible.

A proposed operations room would assess reported cases, distinguish individual violations from organised or systematic practices, and apply graduated measures according to their severity, ranging from warnings to service suspension, blocking and referral to the competent authorities.

The operations room would include representatives of the ministry responsible for information and media affairs, as well as social, psychological, cultural and technical experts. It would assess cases and develop evidence-based approaches to harmful online practices.

The report also highlighted the growing use of artificial intelligence to fabricate content that could harm social values or the national economy.

Beyond technical and legislative measures, the recommendations called for awareness campaigns involving religious, educational, cultural and media institutions.

The Ministry of Education would introduce lessons on online risks, harmful practices and how to report them through official channels, with universities organising awareness seminars. Al-Azhar, the Ministry of Awqaf and the Coptic Orthodox Church would also address practices deemed contrary to religious values.

The Ministries of Youth and Sports, Culture and Communications, alongside the Ministry of State for Information, would organise campaigns targeting young people and content creators, explaining the risks of harmful content, official reporting channels and the legal consequences of repeated violations.

Following a presentation by Justice Minister Mahmoud El-Sherif on the committee's findings, Madbouly ordered the formation of a working group to follow up on the implementation of its recommendations.

But several questions remain.

What exactly is the difference between the proposed Digital Safety Law, the proposed Penal Code amendments, the Cybercrime Law enacted in 2018, and the new Criminal Procedure Law, all of which form part of the legal framework governing online content, including rumours and false news?

Egypt already has Law No. 175 of 2018 on Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes, commonly known as the Cybercrime Law, which was enacted in August 2018.

The law grants authorities powers to block websites deemed to threaten national security or the economy under Article 7, while Article 25 criminalises publishing online content that violates what it describes as the family principles and values of Egyptian society.

The latter carries a minimum six-month prison sentence and a fine of EGP 50,000 to EGP 100,000. The law therefore already provides a broad legal framework for regulating online content, raising questions about the need for another layer of legislation.

The new criminal procedures law has itself faced concerns over its constitutionality.

Egypt’s House of Representatives gave final approval last September to a bill postponing implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Law until 1 October 2027, following a government request citing “incomplete technical preparations and infrastructure needed for its implementation.”

And what about the State Information Service (SIS) and the Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Centre, which already have mandates to monitor and counter rumours?

How many laws do we need to stop the endless spread of online rumours, or rumours in general? You cannot stop the rumour mill through legislation, but through transparency, freedom of expression and freedom of information.

More importantly, independent fact-checking initiatives such as Matsda2sh and Saheeh Masr have been doing precisely that for years, debunking rumours, including those targeting the Egyptian state.

We do not need more laws or restrictions on online expression.

The most effective way to combat rumours and misinformation is to allow greater freedom of speech, open discussion and independent fact-checking, rather than further restricting the digital space.