Egypt Launches Campaign to Combat Rumors and Fake News and Tightens Legal Penalties

The official government statement revealed the preparation of a draft law to increase fines related to crimes of rumors and fake news, alongside expediting the issuance of a draft law regulating the circulation of official data and information.
The Cabinet explained that the meeting discussed establishing early monitoring units in all ministries to detect rumors and respond to them, debunking them at their inception to prevent their spread and negative impact on public security and the economy.
The government confirmed that the current legislative framework is sufficient to achieve deterrence, but it is working to double the fines to match the severity of the crimes and their impact on society and the economy. The Ministry of Justice is also tasked with preparing a draft law to amend the Penal Code and Article 380 to ensure effective deterrence and prevent the spread of these crimes.
In a press conference after the meeting, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly emphasized the government's respect for freedom of opinion and objective criticism, clarifying that the measures target false rumors that harm public health, such as news about vaccinations or food and water, which "harm the state."