Egypt to Regulate Social Media Platforms to Protect Children

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chaired a high-level meeting on Monday at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to review national measures aimed at protecting children and young people from harmful content on social media and digital platforms. The discussions were held in line with presidential directives and focused on developing a comprehensive regulatory framework that would require digital platforms to strengthen online safety standards and adopt proactive measures to safeguard minors.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif, Head of the National Media Authority Ahmed Al-Moslimani, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Infrastructure Affairs Raafat Hindi, National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority CEO Mohamed Shamroukh, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation Yasser Al-Mabadi, and Secretary-General of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood Wael Abdel Razek, along with senior officials from relevant state bodies.

At the opening of the session, Prime Minister Madbouly stressed that the meeting comes amid growing concerns over the failure of some social media platforms and electronic gaming services to comply with child safety standards. He noted that many advanced countries are currently moving to regulate social media and online gaming in order to protect younger generations and strengthen societal security.

Madbouly also highlighted recent statements by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi calling for the launch of legislative efforts to protect children and youth and limit the spread of harmful digital content across social media platforms. He pointed to steps already taken by the House of Representatives as part of a broader state drive to draft an integrated law that would regulate and impose stricter controls on children’s use of social media applications and electronic games. The prime minister underlined the government’s commitment to working closely with parliament to produce effective legislation and regulatory decisions that will protect future generations.

During the meeting, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar presented the main features of the proposed regulatory framework, drawing on successful regional and international models and responding to rising digital safety incidents that require swift action. He emphasized that the initiative aims to create a secure digital environment that reinforces national values and prepares young people for a sustainable future amid rapid technological change.