Egypt
EgyptWhat this score means
- Extreme75 to 100
- Severe and systematic. Device search, interception and detention over online activity are documented rather than theoretical. Reconsider what you carry and what you say.
- High50 to 74
- Substantial and consistently evidenced measures. Device inspection, monitored networks or restricted services should be expected rather than treated as unlikely.
- Caution25 to 49
- Some risk, and manageable with precautions. Measures are evidenced but are narrow, inconsistently applied, or the picture is mixed.
- Low0 to 24
- Ordinary precautions. No systematic device search, network restriction or prosecution of visitors for online speech is evidenced.
Government travel advice is written for one citizenry, so the same country carries a different assessment depending on your passport. Change it in the header.
Showing the baseline, which weights every issuer equally. No government in our corpus publishes travel advice written for you, so this is not addressed to you specifically.
For United Kingdom nationals: 63 (high). This leans on advice written for British nationals, and weights other issuers lower.
For Europe nationals: 64 (high). This leans on advice written for German nationals, and weights other issuers lower.
For United States nationals: 64 (high). This leans on advice written for US nationals, and weights other issuers lower.
For Canada nationals: 64 (high). This leans on advice written for Canadian nationals, and weights other issuers lower.
For Latin America and the Caribbean nationals: 64 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Latin America and the Caribbean, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.
For Africa nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Africa, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Africa and this destination.For most passports in this region, Egypt requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 53 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Middle East nationals: 64 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Middle East, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.
For South Asia nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for South Asia, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between South Asia and this destination.For most passports in this region, Egypt requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 14 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For East and South East Asia nationals: 64 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for East and South East Asia, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.
For Oceania nationals: 64 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Oceania, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.
Dimensions
Each dimension is scored independently, because the traveller who cares about legal exposure for what they have posted is often not the one carrying client data. Higher means more risk.
Speech and legal exposure
What legal risk attaches to what I have said online, or say while I am there?
good confidence10 independent sources
Why this score (19 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored EGY 1 of 4 on freedom to express personal views on sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
Freedom House 2026 scored EGY 0 of 4 on free and independent media.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 2.60 of 4 on how routinely the government censors political content on social media, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 0.22 of 4 on how often people are arrested for political content they posted online, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
Egypt - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
US Department of State, Travel Advisories · observed 2025-07-15 · written for USA nationals
FCDO advice for Egypt: avoid_all_travel_to_parts, avoid_all_but_essential_travel_to_parts.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-04 · written for GBR nationals
Egypt: Exercise a high degree of caution
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-14 · written for CAN nationals
Egypt (Ägypten): Teilreisewarnung: partial travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-09-29 · written for DEU nationals
There is a high risk of arrest in connection to social media posts considered critical of Egypt.
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-16 · written for CAN nationals · extracted by language model
Authorities justify these prosecutions under Article 25 of Law No. 175 of 2018 on Cybercrime, with penalties ranging from six months to three years in prison.
CIVICUS Monitor country updates · observed 2026-02-27 · extracted by language model
Under the proposed draft Code, judges could also order the seizure of such phones, mobile devices, websites, or any other technological means; record private conversations if deemed necessary for investigations; or put devices and online accounts under state surveillance if the suspected acts are related to crimes cited in Article 116 (bis) related to intentional harm to public property or entrusted interests by public servants, and Article 308 (bis) related to defamation and insult via phone calls.
ARTICLE 19, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-02-12 · extracted by language model
A Cairo court convicted Douma on charges of publishing “false news and rumors inside and outside the country that would disturb public order” over social media posts and an article he wrote for the London-based news website The New Arab.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-06-03 · extracted by language model
Egyptian authorities sentenced in absentia journalist Yasser Abu Al-Ela to 25 years in prison on Sunday, November 10, on charges of joining a terrorist organization and spreading false news.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2024-11-13 · extracted by language model
Egyptian police arrested three Spanish tourists on Sunday after they were caught attempting to take nude photographs near the historic Great Pyramid of Giza , according to local authorities.
Colombia One, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-11-11 · extracted by language model
The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns Egypt’s January 16 arrests of Nada Mougheeth, wife of imprisoned cartoonist Ashraf Omar, and journalist Ahmed Serag, who was detained after interviewing Mougheeth about Omar’s ongoing detention and alleged human rights violations surrounding his arrest.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-01-16 · extracted by language model
Be cautious about sharing content or having discussions of a sexual nature on social media, especially about sexual acts that are considered illegal.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-04 · written for GBR nationals · extracted by language model
Alexandrani was arrested on September 24 at a checkpoint in Matrouh Governorate, northwestern Egypt, and later charged with joining a terrorist group, spreading false news and rumors, and using a website to promote terrorist ideas.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-09-26 · extracted by language model
You may be detained for posting anything on social media seen as critical of Egypt or its allies, or for disrespecting its cultural sites.
US Department of State, Travel Advisories · observed 2025-07-15 · written for USA nationals · extracted by language model
Egyptian security forces also detained 200 pro-Palestinian activists upon arrival at the Cairo airport and deported them back to their countries after being questioned.
CIVICUS Monitor country updates · observed 2026-02-27 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
2 excluded sources
- Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search, observed 2023-11-27: aged out after 3 years.
- Doha News, via a site scoped search, observed 2023-09-10: aged out after 3 years.
Surveillance and interception
How comprehensively are communications intercepted, retained, and monitored, and is commercial spyware in use?
good confidence7 independent sourcesEvidence is ageing: contributing sources are weighted at 68% of full strength.
Why this score (11 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored EGY 1 of 4 on freedom to express personal views on sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 1.06 of 4 on how comprehensively the government monitors social media and private online communication, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 1.03 of 4 on how far privacy protection law shields communications from government access, where higher is freer. This measures what privacy law permits rather than what monitoring is practised, so it is read here as a constraint on interception rather than a measurement of it.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025 scored EGY 0.10 of 1 on whether freedom from arbitrary interference with privacy is effectively guaranteed, a measure built from expert assessments of warrantless interception of communications.
World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index, sub-factor 4.6 · observed 2025-01-01
Egyptian authorities are using the Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technique to impede access to virtual private networks (VPNs), commonly used in Egypt to access restricted content.
SMEX, via a site scoped search · observed 2023-08-16 · extracted by language model
Egypt has previously deployed spyware to target critics, including journalists and politicians , and was ranked as the world’s sixth-worst country for press freedom last year.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-02-12 · extracted by language model
Separately, press freedom advocate Rasha Azab accused the Interior Minister and the head of the National Security Agency of orchestrating recent threats against her and surveilling her movements, which culminated in the theft of her car on November 5.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2024-11-13 · extracted by language model
With this addition, the Economic Courts began exercising influence over public life by reinforcing digital surveillance and policing digital morality.
Global Voices (Advox), via a site scoped search · observed 2026-06-12 · extracted by language model
Egypt remains one of the world’s top perpetrators of transnational repression, employing tactics such as arresting journalists’ relatives, blocking exiled media outlets, targeting journalists with spyware, and denying consular services.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-06-25 · extracted by language model
Telegraph, postal, and electronic correspondence, telephone calls, and other forms of communication are inviolable, their confidentiality is guaranteed and they may only be confiscated, examined or monitored by causal judicial order, for a limited period of time, and in cases specified by the law.
Comparative Constitutions Project · observed 2026-10-16 · extracted by language model
The letter was prompted by the company’s December 31, 2025 deadline to fully withdraw from Egypt, a step cited as part of the reforms that led to its removal from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List, and intended to address the misuse of its technology in facilitating digital repression and human rights abuses, including censorship and surveillance targeting journalists and media outlets.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2026-02-12 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
2 excluded sources
- ARTICLE 19, via a site scoped search, observed 1950-07-01: aged out after 76 years.
- The Daily Star (Bangladesh), via a site scoped search, observed 2022-11-14: aged out after 4 years.
Data jurisdiction
What happens to corporate or client data I carry into the jurisdiction?
moderate confidence2 independent sourcesEvidence is ageing: contributing sources are weighted at 47% of full strength.
Why this score (2 sources)
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 1.03 of 4 on how far privacy protection law shields communications from government access, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
VPN providers were required to retain browsing records for two years to continue operating in the country.
SMEX, via a site scoped search · observed 2023-08-16 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Encryption and VPN legality
Are VPNs and strong encryption lawful, and can I be required to install an application or hand over keys?
moderate confidence3 independent sourcesEvidence is ageing: contributing sources are weighted at 43% of full strength.
Why this score (3 sources)
Widespread restrictions. The use of encryption in Egypt is subject to authorisation by the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, the armed forces and national security entities; the National Telecom Regulatory Authority is responsible for issuing licenses for the deployment of any encryption technology in Egypt. Operators and providers must all technical possibilities, including equipment, systems, software and communications, to enable the armed forces and national security entities to exercise their powers, including capabilities for decrypting encrypted communications. Contravention of the law is punishable by imp
Global Partners Digital, World Map of Encryption Laws and Policies · observed 2019-06-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 2.14 of 4 on whether the government regulates the internet in a way consistent with international human rights standards, where higher is freer. This does not establish whether encryption or VPN use is lawful. It measures internet regulation in general, and is used as indirect evidence because the only survey that reads encryption law directly was published in 2019.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
The Egyptian government used DPI technology to throttle internet connection and identify data transferred via OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP protocols.
SMEX, via a site scoped search · observed 2023-08-16 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Border device risk
How likely is my device to be searched, imaged, or seized at the border, and can I be compelled to unlock it?
good confidence5 independent sources
Why this score (8 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored EGY 0 of 4 on due process in civil and criminal matters.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
Egypt - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
US Department of State, Travel Advisories · observed 2025-07-15 · written for USA nationals
FCDO advice for Egypt: avoid_all_travel_to_parts, avoid_all_but_essential_travel_to_parts.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-04 · written for GBR nationals
Egypt: Exercise a high degree of caution
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-14 · written for CAN nationals
Egypt (Ägypten): Teilreisewarnung: partial travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-09-29 · written for DEU nationals
Egyptian officials will likely confiscate electronic devices upon entry if you did not obtain prior approval to import them.
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-16 · written for CAN nationals · extracted by language model
Officials are likely to confiscate satellite phones or radio communications equipment unless you have prior clearance from the Ministry of Telecommunications.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-04 · written for GBR nationals · extracted by language model
Auch bei der Einfuhr von Tauch- und Schnorchelrobotern, Satellitentelefonen, Walkie-Talkies, (Ziel-)Fernrohren, bestimmten GPS-fähigen Geräten (ausgenommen persönlich genutzte Smartphones) und vergleichbarer technischer Ausrüstung kann es bei der Einreise ohne die entsprechenden Genehmigungen zu Problemen bis hin zur Beschlagnahmung der betreffenden Geräte und strafrechtlicher Verfolgung kommen.
Our translation: When importing diving and snorkelling robots, satellite telephones, walkie-talkies, telescopes, certain GPS-enabled devices (excluding personally used smartphones) and comparable technical equipment, entry without the relevant permits can also lead to problems, including the confiscation of the devices concerned and criminal prosecution.
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-10-16 · written for DEU nationals · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
1 excluded source
- Middle East Eye, via a site scoped search, observed 2022-11-08: aged out after 4 years.
Connectivity continuity
How likely am I to lose access to the internet, or to the specific tools I depend on?
good confidence8 independent sources
Why this score (20 sources)
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 3.41 of 4 on how often the government shuts down domestic access to the internet, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored EGY 1.09 of 4 on how routinely the government filters internet content in practice, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
OONI recorded 49 confirmed and 12,019 anomalous results across 204,074 web connectivity measurements in EGY over the 30 days to 2026-10-16, a confirmed blocking rate of 0.02 percent.
Open Observatory of Network Interference, OONI measurement data · observed 2026-10-16
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-10-16, with an aggregate disruption score of 12,606.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-10-16
Egypt - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
US Department of State, Travel Advisories · observed 2025-07-15 · written for USA nationals
FCDO advice for Egypt: avoid_all_travel_to_parts, avoid_all_but_essential_travel_to_parts.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-08-04 · written for GBR nationals
Egypt: Exercise a high degree of caution
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-14 · written for CAN nationals
Egypt (Ägypten): Teilreisewarnung: partial travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-09-29 · written for DEU nationals
Egyptian authorities are using the Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technique to impede access to virtual private networks (VPNs), commonly used in Egypt to access restricted content.
SMEX, via a site scoped search · observed 2023-08-16 · extracted by language model
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-09-21, with an aggregate disruption score of 29.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-21
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-09-20, with an aggregate disruption score of 29.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-20
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-09-19, with an aggregate disruption score of 29.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-19
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-09-17, with an aggregate disruption score of 29.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-17
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-09-16, with an aggregate disruption score of 29.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-16
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-09-15, with an aggregate disruption score of 29.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-15
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-08-15, with an aggregate disruption score of 25.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-08-15
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-08-13, with an aggregate disruption score of 25.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-08-13
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-08-12, with an aggregate disruption score of 25.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-08-12
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-08-11, with an aggregate disruption score of 25.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-08-11
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Egypt in the 7 days to 2026-08-10, with an aggregate disruption score of 25.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-08-10
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
1 excluded source
- Middle East Eye, via a site scoped search, observed 2022-11-08: aged out after 4 years.
Network threat
How hostile is the network environment to a foreign visitor, from state actors and criminals alike?
moderate confidence3 independent sourcesEvidence is ageing: contributing sources are weighted at 44% of full strength.
Why this score (3 sources)
ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, Technical pillar: 20.00 of 20.
International Telecommunication Union, Global Cybersecurity Index · observed 2024-12-31
Freedom House scored Egypt 14 of 25 on obstacles to access in Freedom on the Net, a category covering state control over internet infrastructure and gateways, regulatory and ownership control over service providers, and the independence of the regulator.
Freedom House, Freedom on the Net, obstacles to access · observed 2025-01-01
Egypt’s new cybercrime law legalizes Internet censorship - IFEX
IFEX, via a site scoped search · observed 2019-05-15 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Trend
The overall score is up 5.1 points over 61 days, from 58.6 to 63.7. Most movement is the event overlay decaying rather than anything happening: a news signal loses half its weight every three weeks, so a score drifts back toward its structural baseline on its own. A step that holds is the one worth reading.
Check this yourself
These are not inputs to the score for Egypt. They are where to look if you want to test what is above against something we did not use.
- OONI ExplorerMeasured tests of website and app blocking, updated continuously by volunteers running probes in country. Not used in our scores: its licence forbids commercial use.
- IODA outage recordThe full outage history behind any continuity events shown above, including the measurement methods that detected them.
- FCDO travel adviceThe UK government view, written for UK nationals.
- US State Department travel advisoriesThe US government view, written for US nationals.
Sources
This assessment draws on 20 sources: ARTICLE 19, via a site scoped search; Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise; CIVICUS Monitor country updates; Colombia One, via a site scoped search; Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search; Comparative Constitutions Project; Freedom House, Freedom in the World; Freedom House, Freedom on the Net, obstacles to access; Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis; Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories; Global Partners Digital, World Map of Encryption Laws and Policies; Global Voices (Advox), via a site scoped search; IFEX, via a site scoped search; International Telecommunication Union, Global Cybersecurity Index; Open Observatory of Network Interference, OONI measurement data; SMEX, via a site scoped search; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice; US Department of State, Travel Advisories; V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project; World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index, sub-factor 4.6. Every contributing claim is quoted with its origin and date above. Model version 0.12.0, computed 2026-10-16.
If something here is wrong, say so. Corrections are handled in public, and we correct because the evidence is wrong, not because someone objects.