JOURNALISTIC CENSORSHIP DURING COVID-19 BY USING THE EGYPTIAN COMMUNICABLE DISEASES LAW

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Egyptian Law on Communicable Diseases No. Law 152 of 2021, which sought to regulate procedures and measures necessary to fight the spread of epidemics and pandemics, as well as its implications for journalistic practice and press freedom in Egypt. The study was underpinned by the “Theory of State Censorship”. The study used in-depth interviews, which were done with 30 Egyptian journalists. The finding of the study indicated that the government placed restrictions on journalists by using Law 152 of 2021 to control the news relating to pandemics. The reason was to allow the government to exercise greater information control through digital policy.