Egypt to Regulate Social Media Platforms to Protect Children from Harmful Content

CAIRO - 2 February 2026: 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.

The proposed framework includes unified age-based content classification, effective verification systems, strengthened parental controls, and deterrent penalties for non-compliance. The strategy seeks to reduce children’s exposure to harmful material, standardize safety requirements across platforms, and empower parents to play a more active role in digital supervision.

Abdel Ghaffar outlined several strategic pillars for immediate implementation, including legislative reform, integrated institutional structures, sustainable funding, advanced technological solutions, and a nationwide awareness and education program.

Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy reviewed international experiences in addressing the negative impact of social media on children and the penalties imposed by many countries on platforms that distribute harmful content. She referred to national child protection laws and international legal frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the digital environment, as well as guidelines issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on making digital services safer for minors. She also highlighted principles developed by the International Telecommunication Union that focus on content classification and parental control systems.

Morsy drew attention to the physical, psychological, and behavioral risks faced by children and adolescents who are exposed to inappropriate online content and age-inappropriate applications and games. She also cited financial risks and exploitation cases monitored by international health and child protection organizations.

She called for requiring all companies and content service providers operating online to appoint a local legal representative in Egypt to ensure accountability in cases of violations. Morsy also proposed that fines collected from non-compliant platforms be directed toward supporting the education and health sectors, while urging companies to integrate child protection programs into the content they offer.

Deputy Minister Raafat Hindi stressed the importance of pursuing a dual-track approach, combining legislative action with family-level awareness to enable parents to better protect their children. He confirmed that a government-appointed committee is currently working on drafting the required legislation in coordination with relevant authorities, alongside national awareness efforts.

Wael Abdel Razek reported that a significant share of complaints received by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood relate to online extortion targeting minors. He emphasized that public awareness is a decisive factor in combating digital threats and presented proposals for partnerships with private content companies to reduce harmful material and improve online safety.

Yasser Al-Mabadi outlined the role of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation in monitoring digital and media platforms and addressing harmful online material. He said the council is also reviewing international regulatory models to guide its approach toward platforms that violate safety standards.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants agreed on the urgent need to finalize comprehensive legislation to protect children, youth, and society from harmful digital content. The meeting also confirmed the requirement for every online platform operating in Egypt to have a local legal representative to handle violations, alongside the formation of a high-level national committee tasked with developing an integrated national regulatory framework for digital platforms within a defined timeline.

This initiative reflects Egypt’s broader strategy to strengthen digital governance, enhance child online safety, and align national regulations with global best practices in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.