Egypt’s parliament proposes to regulate TikTok profits and content

Member of Parliament Ahmed Badawi, head of the Egyptian Parliament’s Communications and Information Technology Committee, plans to propose legislative amendments aimed at generating tax revenue from the profits of the widely-used TikTok application in Egypt.

This proposal is part of ongoing discussions about the popular global video app. Recently, the committee officially denied rumors about a potential ban on TikTok by next October.

In recent days, the committee has been engaging with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to explore new mechanisms of regulation. According to Badawi, these measures are intended to “preserve Egyptian values and identity by promoting content that aligns with societal values and customs.”

Why did this TikTok controversy begin?

In an interview with popular talk show host Amr Adib, Badawi noted that recent discussions about the TikTok application follow Parliament’s efforts to take legal action against pages and accounts that post videos deemed to “spread immorality and debauchery.”

MP Ahmed Badawi clarified that while TikTok is extremely popular in Egypt, there are no plans to shut it down. Instead, he intends to propose legislative amendments aimed at regulating the profits earned through the platform and ensuring they fall under tax regulations to safeguard state interests.

“We’ve received numerous complaints from citizens about videos that breach community standards, and there have been widespread social media campaigns urging the complete shutdown of the TikTok app. However, the focus should not be on banning the app but on raising awareness about the risks associated with it,” Badawi said.

Next week, a meeting will be held with the head of TikTok in Egypt and the NTRA to discuss content regulation and the introduction of new laws related to content, he added.