Egypt
There is no evidence of Internet filtering in Egypt, although a small group
of politically sensitive Web sites have
been blocked in the past. The authorities have increased their crackdown
on online writers and bloggers and
have harassed and detained them for
their online activities. Surveillance
efforts have also increased. Similar to
second-generation controls found elsewhere in the world, Egypt has used broad national security laws to justify restrictions on new media services, such as satellite television and cellular phones.
Background
Egypt has amended its constitution to allow opposition parties to contest presidential
polls, but potential candidates face restrictive criteria for participation. Political reform
activists have become more outspoken and have organized street protests in defiance
of an emergency law in force since 1981. 1
The emergency laws grant the government the power to search, arrest, and detain
individuals without the supervision of judicial bodies. Rights groups state that the
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency
There is no evidence of Internet filtering in Egypt, although a small group
of politically sensitive Web sites have
been blocked in the past. The authorities have increased their crackdown
on online writers and bloggers and
have harassed and detained them for
their online activities. Surveillance
efforts have also increased. Similar to
second-generation controls found elsewhere in the world, Egypt has used broad national security laws to justify restrictions on new media services, such as satellite television and cellular phones.
Background
Egypt has amended its constitution to allow opposition parties to contest presidential
polls, but potential candidates face restrictive criteria for participation. Political reform
activists have become more outspoken and have organized street protests in defiance
of an emergency law in force since 1981. 1
The emergency laws grant the government the power to search, arrest, and detain
individuals without the supervision of judicial bodies. Rights groups state that the
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency