This week we saw an Egyptian woman jailed over a YouTube video, and the proposed cacellation by Egypt's General Prosecution of popular Ramadan prank show, "Ramez Wakel Elgaw."
But things could soon get worse for the Internet in Egypt with a proposed bill that's awaiting approval from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. A draft of it has just been leaked by Cairo-based publication, Mada Masr.
On paper the bill’s meant to give Egyptian lawmakers more power over “cyberterrorism.” But it's much more than that.
Here's three things you need to know.
1.'Harming national unity' could end in a 25 year sentence — Using a false email address or website to commit fraudulant acts could land you at least two years in jail. And if they’re deemed harmful to the government? Up to 25 years of incarceration.
2. The Egyptian government is allowed to block any website without notice — Article 19 allows authorities to shut down sites with “any words or figures, pictures or movies, or any propaganda material that threatens national security.”
3. Committing a 'cyber crime,' and that entails a lot — defaming 'heavenly religion' and 'harming public order,' are just a few mentioned in the bill's catch-all Article 22. The sentence? Punishable by an up to life imprisonment in a maximum security jail.
