House Approves Regulations to Monitor Social Media & Communications

The House of Representatives approved new regulations that would grant the Public Prosecution the authority to monitor various communication channels, including social media accounts, emails and mobile phones. This decision came during a session in which significant portions of the new Criminal Procedure law draft were also ratified.

The regulations under Article 79 allow members of the Public Prosecution to issue orders for intercepting and monitoring communications, provided they receive approval from an investigating judge. These powers extend to wired and wireless communications, private social media content, emails and private conversations, with a particular focus on investigations into serious crimes that carry penalties of over three months in prison.

The approved article also outlines that any such monitoring orders will be limited to 30 days, with extensions allowed based on case review. Additionally, the law includes provisions to seize or record media containing intercepted communications.

The draft bill, which spans 540 articles, introduces a range of reforms aligned with Egypt’s Constitution and National Human Rights Strategy, responding to international recommendations while adapting to evolving technological landscapes.