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Egyptian authorities have arrested at least eight TikTok creators in less than a week, sparking alarm from human rights advocates who see the move as a sweeping crackdown on online content, especially targeting women.
The arrests were made on vague charges, including “indecency” and “misuse of social media.”
The Interior Ministry claims the videos contain “obscene language” and “violate public morals.” However, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a prominent advocacy group, argues that the government is trying to control public discourse.
They have called on authorities to stop prosecuting creators on “vague, ethics- and class-based charges such as ‘violating Egyptian family values.'”
The recent arrests are the result of an online smear campaign and a complaint filed by 32 lawyers. This crackdown, described by EIPR as the largest since 2020, has specifically targeted creators from lower-middle-class backgrounds who have gained popularity and wealth on social media.
Among those arrested are several women, including Suzy al-Urduniya and Alia Qamaron, as well as three men. Their content ranges from comedy sketches to beauty product ads and daily life snippets.
Pro-government figures and state media have supported the arrests. One pundit, Ahmed Moussa, claimed the content was “destroying society’s values.”
The head of parliament’s telecommunications committee has even given TikTok’s regional management three months to “improve its content in Egypt” or face a potential block.
EIPR has documented at least 151 individuals charged with “violating family values” since 2020.
The group warns that the state is using vague legal charges to “discipline” its citizens and exert control over the public sphere.
