Egypt arrests TikTokers in morality crackdown

Egyptian authorities have arrested at least eight TikTok creators over the past week in the latest morality crackdown, according to AFP. Charges include “violating public morals” and “misusing social media.” Rights group EIPR said the campaign targets mostly lower-middle-class women and reflects broader state efforts to police personal expression.

The arrests followed a complaint by 32 lawyers and an online smear campaign, and are the largest such sweep since 2020. Content creators — including Suzy al-Urduniya and Qamr al-Wekala — were reportedly detained at home. Police said some had confessed to posting videos for profit, and raised questions about the origins of their earnings.

State media praised the campaign. Ahmed Badawy, head of parliament’s telecom committee, gave TikTok three months to “improve its content” or risk a ban.

EIPR warns that vague morality laws are being used to control the public sphere. Since 2020, at least 151 people have been charged with “violating family values,” most of them women.