Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has given TikTok a three-month deadline to ensure that the content on its platform complies with “Egyptian social and moral standards,” according to Ahram Online on 2 August.
This directive was issued after a meeting between TikTok’s CEO for the Middle East and North Africa, the head of the NTRA, and members of Egypt’s parliamentary Telecommunications Committee.
In that meeting, TikTok reportedly agreed to review its content moderation policies to better reflect Egypt’s cultural norms, citing Telecommunications Committee head Ahmed Badawi, who appeared on the Al Shams TV program Alamat Istifham on 2 August.
This latest move follows years of ongoing friction between TikTok and Egyptian authorities.
The arrest of content creator Suzy El-Ordonia is the most recent in a series of detentions carried out by the Interior Ministry against individuals accused of publishing “inappropriate content,” “offending cultural sensibilities,” and “violating family values,” with some cases even involving charges of human trafficking that led to prison sentences.
According to Badawi, Parliament has been working with the NTRA for the past year to develop new regulatory mechanisms.
He said these efforts aim to “preserve Egyptian values and identity by promoting content that aligns with societal values and customs.”
However, Badawi did not state what specific consequences TikTok would face if it fails to meet the government’s demands.
Don’t Miss This:
Nigeria Raises Alarm As West Africa Records $2.1bn In Suspicious Crypto Deals
In a 2024 interview with talk show host Amr Adib, Badawi discussed Parliament’s ongoing push to pursue legal action against social media pages and accounts that share content seen as promoting “immorality and debauchery.”
While noting TikTok’s widespread popularity in Egypt, Badawi made it clear that there are no current plans to ban the platform.
Instead, he said he would propose legislative changes to regulate earnings made through TikTok and ensure those profits are taxed appropriately to protect the state’s financial interests.
“We’ve received numerous complaints from citizens about videos that breach community standards, and there have been widespread social media campaigns urging the complete shutdown of the TikTok app.
However, the focus should not be on banning the app but on raising awareness about the risks associated with it,” Badawi said.
In recent years, Egyptian authorities have detained multiple women for sharing content that they claim violates family values.
In 2020, Haneen Hossam and Mawada al-Adham received prison sentences of ten and six years, respectively, and were fined 300,000 EGP (USD 18,750) on charges of “violating family values and principles.”
More recently, blogger Rouky Ahmed was arrested for publishing what authorities described as indecent material on social media.
Human rights advocates and lawyers have criticized the use of these loosely defined charges related to public morals and family values, saying they are often used within Egypt’s legal system against women from working-class backgrounds.
Don’t Miss This:
Ghana Boosts Crypto Use As Its Currency Becomes World’s Fastest Growing In 2025
Image Credit: Zikoko
