Egypt strengthens internet control

<p>Cairo [Egypt], Aug 20 (ANI): A new law has been approved by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to tighten the government\'s control over the internet.</p><p>Aimed at combating extremism, the Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes legislation bans the \"promotion of the ideas of terrorist organisations\", CNN reported.</p><p>The new law, which was signed on Saturday, also allows authorities to block websites deemed by judges as threatening to national security.</p><p>It also prohibits the dissemination of information on the movement of security forces, while also imposing strict punishments for hacking government information systems, according to the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.</p><p>Fattah el-Sisi\'s government has been criticised for blocking critical voices in the media and scrubbing digital content ever since it came into power in 2014.</p><p>Nearly 500 websites have already been blocked in Egypt since May 2017, according to the Cairo-based Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression. (ANI)</p><br/><center><em><p>This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI</p></em></center>

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