Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) have issued a joint decision requiring social media platforms to take measures to protect children and teenagers from digital risks.
The measures, issued under directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, apply to users under the age of 15 and introduce different levels of protection based on age.
Under the new rules, children under 13 will not be allowed to create, activate, or maintain independent personal accounts on social media platforms.
Users aged 13 to under 15 may have accounts, but platforms must automatically activate Safe Mode for them. Children in this age group must not be able to disable the safety setting on their own while they remain within the age bracket.
Platforms will also be required to use effective and proportionate methods to verify users’ ages and prevent attempts to circumvent the age limit. The rules require platforms to comply with personal data protection principles and minimise the data collected for age verification.
The decision also requires platforms to review existing accounts and take appropriate action where reliable mechanisms indicate that an account belongs to a user under 15. Platforms must provide a clear mechanism for users to challenge an incorrect age assessment and correct their age when necessary.
Khaled Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, said the measures are intended to ensure that children can benefit from technology in a safe and responsible manner, rather than restrict their access to digital development. He highlighted a range of online risks, including harmful content, exploitation, bullying, harassment and blackmail.
Mohamed Shamroukh, Executive President of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), said the framework is designed to strike a balance between protecting children and safeguarding users’ privacy and digital rights, with measures tailored to different age groups and levels of risk. Platforms will have up to three months from the decision’s effective date to comply. They must also submit an implementation plan and timetable within 30 days of the decision’s publication and notification.
