Egypt Also Wants to Ban TikTok

After the USA and EU have long fought the spread of Chinese digital platform TikTok, Egypt is also considering banning the social network to protect “the values and integrity of the Egyptian family.” This is the aim of a proposal submitted by Egyptian House of Representatives member Essam Diab (pictured), who accuses the platform of “spreading immorality and debauchery” among young people. The proposal, addressed to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Communications Minister Amr Talaat, is intended to stir controversy in the country over the regulation of online content. In a post on his official Facebook page , Diab explained that the videos posted on TikTok “violate Egyptian customs, traditions, and values, corrupt the youth and threaten the integrity and future of the Egyptian family.”

TikTok is an app coming globally from China, where it was created by Zhang Yiming in September 2016 as a platform for amateur music videos, but has since expanded to include all types of short videos. Most of the creations uploaded to this social network are in vertical format and are recorded with and for mobile devices.

In fact, Diab’s proposal is fanning the flames of an already very heated debate in this North African country about the use and regulation of TikTok. In August, Ahmed Badawi, head of the Egyptian parliament’s House of Representatives communications committee, said the country “does not intend to ban the platform,” stating instead its intention to “draft a law to tax the profits generated by the app.” The platform has been at the center of controversy in several countries over issues related to data security, privacy, and content. In Egypt, the debate has centered on the potential negative effects on young people and society, with accusations of promoting content deemed “not in line with Islam or the cultural and moral values of a Muslim country.”