TikTok Given 3-Month Deadline to Abide by Egyptian “Social and Moral Standards”

Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has given short video social media platform TikTok a three-month deadline to regulate its content to adhere to “Egyptian social and moral standards,” reported Ahram Online on 2 August.

This announcement follows a meeting between TikTok’s Middle East and North Africa CEO, the NTRA chief, and members of the House’s committee, in which the social media giant committed to revisiting its content moderation policies to suit Egypt’s cultural norms, said Ahram Online citing House of Representatives Telecommunications committee head Ahmed Badawi’s appearance on Al Shams TV programme Alamat Istifham on 2 August.

The tension between the Egyptian authorities and TikTok is no new development, with content creator Suzy El-Ordonia being the latest in a series of arrests made by the Egyptian Interior Ministry over the past years for the alleged offending cultural sensibilities, posting “inappropriate content” and “violating family values,” and even human trafficking — with some cases resulting in imprisonment.

The House committee has been in talks with the NTRA for a year now, aiming to explore new mechanisms of regulation. According to Badawi, these measures are intended to “preserve Egyptian values and identity by promoting content that aligns with societal values and customs.”