TikTok given three-month deadline to align with Egyptian content standards: MP - Society
Speaking in a phone interview on Alaamat Istifham on Al-Shams TV, Badawi said the deadline was set following a high-level meeting last month between the CEO of TikTok Egypt and North Africa, the head of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), and members of the parliamentary committee.
During the meeting, TikTok pledged to revise its content moderation policies to better reflect Egypt's cultural norms and values.
Badawi stressed that while Egyptian authorities retain the legal right to ban any app that violates national laws, he believes stricter regulation and targeted legislation are more effective than outright bans. He said the solution is not to block these platforms, but to enforce standards that reflect Egypt's social fabric.
He added that the committee is actively monitoring TikTok content and is prepared to intervene if violations persist. Some types of content, he confirmed, have already been restricted.
The Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee is currently exploring legal frameworks to regulate digital platforms, aiming to strike a balance between safeguarding freedom of expression and upholding public morality.
The development comes amid growing public pressure to ban the Chinese-owned platform, with critics accusing TikTok of spreading content that 'violates societal values' and 'defames the reputation of Egyptian women.'
In the past 72 hours, at least six prominent TikTok creators—including five women—have been arrested following legal complaints filed by private lawyers. The complaints name around 40 TikTok users, accusing them of charges ranging from spreading false information and violating public decency laws to undermining social norms.
The controversy escalated after a viral video surfaced of a TikToker claiming to be the secret daughter of the late President Hosni Mubarak and a former pop singer. She alleged the existence of a human organ trafficking network operating in Egypt, implicating several social media personalities and actors.
One of the actresses named in the video filed a formal complaint, leading to the TikToker's arrest on charges of spreading false news and defamation.
According to data published by Statista in early 2024, TikTok has an estimated 32.9 million adult users in Egypt—roughly 47 percent of the country's population aged 18 and over.
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