Egypt’s Minister of State for Information met around 70 digital content creators and influencers, pledging to help them access official sources of information, his ministry said in a statement.
Diaa Rashwan said digital content was an important tool for influencing public opinion and could complement professional media when used appropriately, according to the statement.
The participants, whose combined social media following exceeds 500 million according to the ministry, produce content on subjects including politics, economics, culture, science and technology.
More than 40 creators spoke during the meeting, which lasted over four hours, the ministry said. They called for clearer professional and ethical standards, better access to information, copyright protection and help obtaining permission to film in public.
Some also called for clarification of terms used in cases against content creators, including Egyptian family values.
Rashwan said the government was working on a freedom of information law and would facilitate contact between serious content creators and official sources.
He said creators could establish an association to set standards for their work, provided it complied with the constitution and the law.
The ministry is preparing to hold its first forum for Egyptian content creators and influencers at the beginning of next year, Rashwan said.
