Executive list of cybercrime law to be issued soon: Senior MP

CAIRO – 11 November 2019: Senior Parliament Member Ahmed Badawi said the Ministry of Communication has finished preparing the executive list of Law No. 175 of 2018 on combating cybercrime, paving the way for the prime minister office to release it.

In an interview with Egypt Today, Badawi, head of the communications committee, said the law will be issued during the coming period as its executive list is expected to be released within days.

Badawi said that the law combating computer-oriented crimes is one of the most important legislations that would also help deal with anti-state rumors circulated on social media and some websites.

The law decisively combats all forms of cybercrimes, whether identity theft or violating personal data or attacking private or state-owned websites, Badawi said, adding that it would also counter circulating fake photos of girls on social media, and the dissemination of false news that target national security.

Among the crimes that the law will deal with are Internet fraud and cyber extortion, Badawi said. He noted that the law will impose penalties of up to imprisonment and fine.



In May last year, the Parliament initialed a cybercrime bill aiming at combating the illegal use of computers and information networks.

The Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes Law defines commonly used concepts such as “websites, traffic data, digital directory, personal statements and national security”.

On August 18, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ratified the anti-cybrecrime law allowing authorities, through a judge, to order the blocking of websites that "constitute a threat" to the state or publish fake news as well as jail or fine those who run them.

The law imposes jail terms of up to five years and fines ranging between LE 10,000 and LE 20 million.

According to the law, people whose social media accounts have more than 5,000 followers could be placed under supervision.

The law authorizes authorities to suspend or block any personal account which "publishes or broadcasts fake news or anything (information) inciting violating the law, violence or hatred".

The danger of fake news nowadays lies in their ability to spread rapidly over the internet through social media platforms and websites of high traffic.