Egypt's New Cybercrime Law Legalizes Internet Censorship - Reporters Without Borders

Egypt's New Cybercrime Law Legalizes Internet Censorship - Reporters Without Borders

Egypt's new law on cybercrime legalizes and increases internet censorship and blocking of websites, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) non-governmental organization said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st August, 2018) Egypt's new law on cybercrime legalizes and increases internet censorship and blocking of websites, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) non-governmental organization said on Tuesday.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi on Saturday signed a law, which allows authorities to block sites considered to be a security threat. People managing or even visiting blocked websites could face fines or even prison.

"The 'cybercrime law' that Egypts President Sisi signed on 18 August legalizes and reinforces the existing censorship and blocking of websites and criminalizes both those who operate sites and those who use them," the NGO said in a statement.

The organization stressed that many sites had already been blocked in the past and the new law would legalize this practice.

"In the name of national security, which is defined very broadly and vaguely, the authorities have assumed the right to censor news sites or NGOs whose only crime is reporting human rights violations by the state," Sophie Anmuth, the head of RSFs middle East desk, was quoted as saying.

Another bill, passed by the Egyptian parliament last month and awaiting approval by the president, would allow social network accounts with more than 5,000 followers to be considered media outlets.