Egypt’s prior licensing system for digital

The prior licensing system in Egypt grants the Supreme Council for Media Regulation broad administrative power to determine which digital media outlets can operate legally, amid insufficient transparency and guarantees of equality and non-discrimination. This system, established under Law No. 180 of 2018 on Regulating Press, Media, and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, requires prior approval for websites to function, creating a mechanism that affects media pluralism and the right to access information.

The report, published on aftegypt.org on 16 August 2026 by Rahma Samy, uses a qualitative approach to analyze Egypt’s digital media legal framework. It reviews Law No. 180 of 2018, its executive regulations, and licensing rules, alongside statements and decisions from the Supreme Council for Media Regulation regarding site licensing and status regularization. The research incorporates legal and analytical reports from Egyptian and international human rights organizations, plus direct interviews with managers of independent news websites in two phases: June 2023 with representatives from Mada Masr, Al-Manassa, Al-Sulta Al-Rabi’a, Fikr Tani, and Masr 360, and a follow-up in June 2026 with managers from Al-Manassa, Al-Sulta Al-Rabi’a, and Masr 360.

Under the current system, securing a license from the Supreme Council for Media Regulation is mandatory for legal operation. This applies to new outlets and existing platforms through a “status regularization” process, extending even for non-traditional journalism websites and applications. While framed as a tool to organize media work and enforce professional standards, implementation shows a stark divide: some outlets gain licenses or regularized status, while independent news sites face pending applications for years, rejections, or no response. Meanwhile, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation has approved numerous commercial, service, and news platforms in recent years.

The report evaluates these policies against constitutional guarantees and international media standards, especially Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It finds the licensing system creates varying degrees of legal legitimacy, leaving some organizations in legal limbo despite compliance attempts. Key case studies include Mada Masr, Al-Manassa, Fikr Tani, Masr 360, and Al-Sulta Al-Rabi’a, with analysis of the legal and professional impact on these outlets and their journalists.

The fundamental issue lies in the prior licensing mechanism itself, not the principle of regulation. The system affects the structure of the media landscape, pluralism, legal security of organizations and workers, and public access to information. Therefore, the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression recommends amending Law No. 180 of 2018 to make notification sufficient for establishing digital news websites, aligning with Article 70 of the Egyptian Constitution, rather than requiring prior licensing from the Supreme Council for Media Regulation.

Additional recommendations include repealing legal provisions that penalize unlicensed website creation or management, chiefly Article 105 of the Press and Media Regulation Law, to prevent closure, confiscation, or financial penalties for lacking a license. The Supreme Council for Media Regulation should adhere to statutory deadlines for deciding on applications, with non-response within the legal timeframe considered implicit approval. The body must publish periodic, updated data on licensing administration, including submitted, approved, rejected, and pending applications, grounds for rejection, and average processing times. Finally, all regulatory measures concerning digital news websites must follow the principles of necessity, proportionality, transparency, and non-discrimination, in line with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and international standards on freedom of expression and media freedom.