Egyptian parliament approves a new law the regulates digital space
The Egyptian parliament passed a cybercrime law. The law provides severe sentences and hefty fines for crimes related to privacy, censorship, hacking, and fraud. According to the law, penalties range from three months to five years in prison, and fines could reach up to 20 million Egyptian pounds for Internet users and service providers who fail to comply with the law. The law awaits the presidential approval and was criticised for reportedly quelling the opposition. It further grants the investigative authorities the right to ‘order the censorship of websites’ that ‘pose a threat to national security or compromise national security or the national economy.’