Egypt has now implemented their online media publications and social media law. The country’s Supreme Media Regulation Council reported that it has started receiving license applications from various Internet news websites since 21 October.
TGA reported few weeks ago that the country’s President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi endorsed a law granting authorities the right to monitor social media users in the country.
The law will empower state’s Supreme Council for Media Regulations to place people with more than 5,000 followers — on social media or with a personal blog or website — under supervision.
The council is also authorised to suspend or block any personal account which “publishes or broadcasts fake news or anything (information) inciting violating the law, violence or hatred.”
See Also: E-commerce Platforms in Egypt Now Required to Charge VAT on Goods Sold Offline
Now that they have started implementing the law, Online publications will receive a license allowing them to publish and be accessible to people in Egypt once it has been approved and have paid a license fee of 50,000 Egyptian Pounds ($2,700. This license will be valid for 5 years, unless revoked, and is renewable.
As part of the application process, those online media publications looking to get approved for licenses need to submit information on its editorial policy, language of publication, organizational structure, how the website is funded, and all its URLs as well as physical addresses.
See More Stories:
- Cairo Angels Invest in Egypt Co-Working Space Provider; AlMaqarr
- Egypt’s Healthcare Start-up, Vezeeta Lands $12M Series C Fund
- Egypt’s First Smartphone Maker, SICO Plans to Enter Bigger African Market
- Egyptian Start-up, iCommunity Secures $600k Series-A Round
- Egypt’s Sawari Ventures Set to Launch $55 million Venture Capital Fund Later this Year