Khaberni - The chairman of the Communications and Information Technology Committee of the Egyptian House of Representatives, Ahmed Badawi, revealed a comprehensive governmental and regulatory plan focused on restricting access to harmful electronic applications and games.
The Egyptian parliamentarian confirmed that 80% of online betting applications and a large number of games classified as dangerous will be blocked by the end of the current month of February.
Badawi explained in statements to a local channel, that the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation are working in coordination with the Communications Committee to enumerate and classify violating applications and games based on specific criteria.
He pointed out that these criteria include promoting illegal betting, including violent content or content that incites harmful behaviors, directly or indirectly targeting children and adolescents, or the absence of effective protective tools for younger age groups.
Badawi confirmed that the blocking process will not be random, but will be based on technical reports and studies prepared by the committee in cooperation with the relevant entities, noting that next Monday will witness the implementation of a mechanism to set a minimum age for using certain applications and digital services in Egypt.
He added that the measures are not limited to blocking only, but also include a comprehensive awareness plan targeting families and schools, aimed at enhancing parental supervision and teaching children and adolescents how to safely handle digital spaces, directing them towards educational and constructive content.
The deputy described this phase as "the largest digital regulation operation to protect children and adolescents" witnessed by Egypt, emphasizing that the main goal is to provide a safe digital environment that protects the new generations from the risks of digital addiction, electronic gambling and exposure to inappropriate content.
Electronic betting applications are unlicensed in Egypt and violate the Anti-Gambling Law and the Information Technology Crime Act.
In recent years, there has been an increase in complaints from parents and schools about the impact of some electronic games on children's behavior, including violence, in-app spending, and addiction.
In 2023–2024, a limited number of popular betting applications were blocked, but the new measures are broader in scope in terms of the number of targeted applications.
