Egypt Set to Tighten Penalties for Fake news and Fast-track Data Circulation Law

The Egyptian government is preparing amendments to the Penal Code to impose tougher fines for spreading rumours and misinformation, after concluding that existing penalties are no longer an effective deterrent.

At a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the New Administrative Capital on Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice was tasked with drafting the proposed changes. The Cabinet said the move was aimed at curbing crimes that directly threaten “societal security and the national economy”, with a specific review of fines set out under Article 380 of the Penal Code.

While noting that the current legal framework for tackling rumours and fake news is broadly sufficient, the Cabinet stressed that financial penalties need to be strengthened to reflect the seriousness of such offences.

Data Circulation Law

Alongside the proposed amendments, the government decided to expedite the completion and issuance of a long-awaited law regulating the circulation of official data and information.

The draft legislation, being prepared by the Ministries of Justice and Communications, is intended to align with Article 68 of the Constitution. It seeks to balance transparency and citizens’ right to access accurate information with the protection of confidential data, thereby reducing the space for misinformation by providing clear and official sources.

Institutional Response

To improve the speed and effectiveness of official responses, the Cabinet directed all ministries to establish “early warning units” to monitor, identify and swiftly rebut rumours.

It also called for a coordinated mechanism between the Cabinet’s Media Centre and ministerial media offices to counter false information using “accurate data, documented information and conclusive evidence”.

In addition, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has been instructed to roll out specialised training programmes for state employees to strengthen their technical skills in tracking rumours and verifying information.

Announcing the measures, the government reiterated its commitment to constitutional freedoms, stressing that media and press freedom remain guaranteed under the law, while urging collective efforts to confront misinformation that harms society.