The Egyptian parliament's communication and information technology committee approved on Monday in principle a bill on protecting the personal information of citizens.

"Electronic crimes have increased remarkably recently. The General Anti-Electronic Crimes Department receives more than 90 reports daily," Ahmed Badawi, the committee chairman, said. 

"The bill aims to protect personal data and privacy and it is necessary to spread awareness among the citizenry on the need to protect their personal information," Mohamed Hegazi, the chairman of the legislative committee of the communications ministry  said.

"Personal data in the bill are divided into two types; the first is basic data and the second is sensitive information including health, financial, political views and children's data, which requires higher protection," he added.

"The draft law aims to protect the citizens' data particularly in regards to electronic marketing," Hegazi said.

In October 2017, 60 MPs submitted a proposal to parliament to adopt a new law protecting personal data, to be the first of its kind in Egypt.

The draft law aims to implement Article 57 of the constitution, which stipulates that citizens’ private lives should be safeguarded and that private communications should not be monitored by any entity without the prior approval of the involved parties, except in the case of a judicial order.