Pornography and Censorship in Egypt

Recent web pornography ban in Egypt raises questions about the evils of censorship and the changing attitudes of Egyptians towards online content from سكس العرب . The ban may reflect the conservative Muslim elements in the Egyptian government that worry moderates. However, the same ban was passed 3 years ago, but failed to be enforced primarily because of a broken filtering system. Regardless, the recent ban reflects a worrying trend for Egypt's Internet freedom.

Examples of pornography banned in Egypt

While Egyptians have generally resisted attempts to restrict free speech, the new law is not without precedent. In 2009, an administrative court upheld a lawsuit arguing that websites with pornography violated social and religious values. Prosecutors have been taking legal action against porn sites for several years, but the new law contradicts a previous ruling. It is unclear what the new law will do to curb XNXX porn sites.

The internet has been a major force in the recent uprising in Egypt, connecting the dissidents in Egypt. The government is attempting to curb the internet's role in this uprising, but it is not likely to succeed unless it is backed by a strong coalition of Islamic activists and conservative public prosecutors. And the ban is likely to be controversial - Egyptians have consistently ranked high in Google searches for images of naked bodies.

Criminalization of obscene content

In Egypt, the Criminal Code defines "obscene content" as any content that promotes dishonesty, discourages disrespect for parents, deviates from chastity, and obliterates religious and scientific values. These crimes are punishable and the judge has broad discretion when it comes to deciding whether the conduct violated Egyptian values. Using facts and surrounding circumstances, the judge can infer whether the content was intended or not. The accused does not need to demonstrate actual knowledge of the content to be prosecuted.

Egyptian prosecutors arrested a second-year archaeology student for posting a video to an Instagram account. Her videos were encouraging young women to post sex videos to popular video sharing website Likee, where they get paid based on the number of views. Despite wearing a headscarf, she has denied the charges. Her lawyer says she was not exposing herself to the public. Although the video was short, Egyptian prosecutors accused Ms. Hossam of inciting young women to engage in prostitution online.

Impact on Internet freedoms

While Egyptians aren't about to let morality police determine what they can and cannot view online, they also aren't about to let any government interfere in their lives, either. During the Mubarak era, internet censorship was almost nonexistent, but that's about to change. The new president has pledged to restore free expression. But what will happen to the freedom to read and share information online? Will Egypt's new government revert to its old ways?

Censorship and pornography are two major challenges for Internet freedoms in Egypt, and they must not be used as an excuse for government action that violates Internet privacy and rights. The freedom to express ideas is a fundamental right, but there are duties associated with it. Censorship and pornography should be banned, while free speech should be respected. And if we're going to allow freedom of speech to exist in a country, we should make sure that the people who use the Internet don't do so illegally.

Sustained crackdown on smutty websites

A sustained crackdown on smutty websites in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, has brought the country to the brink of censorship. The crackdown has been justified as a matter of cultural authenticity and moral hygiene. Yet, it is important to note that the crackdown's methods are far from neutral. They include police harassment, entrapment, and even torture. The crackdown's agents range from government ministers to phalanxes of police informants in Cairo. The victims of these crackdowns are men suspected of having sex with other men, with violence being used to punish them.

The Egyptian government should take concrete steps to end these practices, including introducing measures to punish torture and prevent the use of sexually explicit content. The Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (ATA) should include a human rights component and address the issue of sexual orientation. It should also seek to eliminate discrimination against vulnerable groups such as gay men, lesbians, and transgender individuals.