Over the past two weeks, there have been intensified security crackdowns on several TikTok content creators in Egypt accused of producing material that violates societal values or engaging in illegal activities. The crackdowns, which have received widespread public support, have also revealed more complex issues, such as money laundering, sparking a broader debate over digital content regulations in the country.
Since its launch, TikTok has become a major part of many people’s daily lives in Egypt. According to the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), TikTok’s use has soared in recent years. In Ramadan 2022, the NTRA reported a significant rise in video uploads and shares on platforms such as TikTok and Likee, with daily viewing reaching 3.5 million hours, a 158 per cent rise from the previous year. By Ramadan 2024, daily viewing had climbed to 10 million hours, reflecting a 41 per cent increase from 2023.
In recent weeks TikTok has captured broader public attention, not only among its users but also among those not following the platform before. The shift was driven by debates over content deemed offensive to public morals and by the arrests of several TikTokers accused of producing such material.
Reports from lawyers and members of the public about inappropriate TikTok content prompted action by the Interior Ministry. On 29 July, the ministry announced the arrest of a TikToker, named Marwa, on its official Facebook page after an actress filed a complaint against her for defamation. The actress said that the TikToker had falsely claimed that she and other content creators had been involved in human organ trafficking. The arrest marked the beginning of a series, which started with complaints about offensive content and later extended to more serious charges such as money laundering.
After the arrest of the TikToker at the end of July, the campaign expanded in the first week of August, when the ministry announced about eight more arrests. On 1 August, a TikToker known as Um Sagda and another known as Um Makka were detained on charges of posting indecent videos, violating public morals, misusing social media, and raising doubts about their wealth.
The next day, the security forces arrested a TikToker known as Suzy El Ordonia on similar charges. Soon after, a TikToker known as Modahim was taken into custody following complaints about offensive videos. However, his arrest led to the discovery of cash in multiple currencies, gold jewellery, and quantities of hashish and opium.
The campaign continued, targeting TikTokers posting offensive language, such as one named Mohamed Abdel-Atti, and those undermining family values or misusing social media, such as the TikToker whose account is named Shaker Mahzour Delwaqti. The ministry announced the arrest of Shaker and his manager, both found with an unlicensed firearm and quantities of hashish and crystal meth.
The ministry’s announcements sparked a wave of public support, with thousands of comments praising the role of the security forces in tackling content that contradicts societal values. Many people went further, suggesting the names of other creators producing inappropriate content. Comments on the ministry’s Facebook page repeatedly mentioned TikTokers such as Sheikh Losha and Khaled Al-Rassam, who were also later arrested by the security forces.
Al-Rassam faces charges over videos containing offensive expressions deemed to incite immorality and undermine family values, while Sheikh Losha was detained for publishing violent clips considered a blatant violation of public morals.
On its official Facebook page, the ministry has facilitated the reporting of offensive content by enabling complaints via direct messages, a step welcomed by many social media users. Meanwhile, the hashtag “Shut Down TikTok in Egypt” dominated the comments on posts announcing the arrests.
INVESTIGATIONS: What the investigations revealed about the arrested TikTokers turned out to be even more controversial than their offensive content on the platform.
In one case, the security forces responded to complaints against a content creator Yasmine accused of posting videos of herself dancing in revealing clothing that violated societal values. When the authorities located the TikToker in question and moved to arrest her, they discovered the person was actually a male student impersonating a female in order to post indecent content for higher viewership and financial gain.
Further investigations brought more charges against those arrested. The ministry announced legal action against a content creator accused of laundering around LE100 million from profits gained through videos that undermine societal values. Another content creator is accused of laundering LE65 million and attempting to conceal the source of the funds by buying residential units, cars, motorcycles, and establishing companies. In addition, one female content creator laundered LE15 million by purchasing residential units.
Although most of the arrests were initially based on charges of misusing social media or posting indecent content, the uncovering of money laundering crimes has introduced harsher penalties under Egypt’s anti-money laundering law.
Lawyer Wahid Al-Kilani, head of the Dialogue Committee at the Egyptian Bar Association, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the added charges mean the defendants could face imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine equal to twice the amount involved, in addition to confiscating the original funds. For example, the TikToker found guilty of laundering LE100 million would face a fine of LE200 million, the confiscation of the LE100 million laundered, and a prison sentence.
Al-Kilani added that some TikTokers may also face tax-evasion charges, as receiving income through TikTok qualifies them to pay both value-added tax and income tax if their annual income exceeds LE45,000, which is above the exemption threshold. In such cases, up to 30 per cent of their net profits can be collected in taxes.
“For some TikTokers, such as Um Makka, tax-evasion charges may arise from their actual business activities rather than their work as content creators. Um Makka owns a shop selling fesikh [fermented and dried fish], and in her videos, she claims to earn about LE120,000 daily from sales,” Al-Kilani said.
“Based on this figure and her three years in business, she could be owing millions in taxes. Although tax-evasion charges can be resolved through settlement, failure to pay the required amount may lead to a prison sentence of up to five years. Moreover, the claim of generating such an unrealistic figure from selling fish raises suspicions of money laundering.”
“Meanwhile, TikTokers accused of posting indecent content may face charges under Egypt’s anti-prostitution law, which carries prison terms from 24 hours to three years for promoting debauchery or using sexual gestures, words, images, or writings encouraging immoral acts. Misusing social media also brings fines ranging from LE5,000 to LE50,000,” he added.
Al-Kilani was among 90 lawyers who filed reports against TikTokers producing content contrary to public morals and societal values. “After witnessing the indecency that surrounded much of the content and hearing about the millions circulating among some TikTokers, I announced on my page my intention to file a case to block TikTok or impose legal restrictions on it in Egypt,” he said.
“Under Egypt’s Law 175/2018 on Combating Information Technology Crimes, the state can block or monitor platforms, a measure that has also been taken in other countries. Many countries, such as Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, have banned TikTok.”
After his announcement, Al-Kilani was joined by dozens of other lawyers until their number reached 90. “We created a WhatsApp group called the Defence Authority to Purify or Block TikTok. We then filed about 90 separate reports against TikTokers whose content we found indecent, and we are following the investigations against those arrested,” he said.
“Reports were also filed against a TikToker known as Salma Al-Rahala, who appeared in her videos handing money to several TikTokers, claiming the money had been sent by a woman in Switzerland. In this case, she received funds from abroad without a verified source or stated purpose. Under Egyptian law, it is prohibited to collect donations from abroad without prior government approval.”
“Large sums, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, were also transferred to her TikTok account during her live streams. This raises the suspicion of money laundering, as it is highly implausible that a regular viewer would send $100,000 or even $10,000 to a content creator purely out of support.”
“Her name was also mentioned in videos by other TikTokers accusing her and others of involvement in human organ trafficking. We considered it necessary to present these details to the prosecutor-general for investigation,” Al-Kilani explained.
ALLEGATIONS: Allegations of organ trafficking on TikTok were not limited to Al-Rahala.
The matter escalated when a TikToker calling herself Marwa bint Al-Rais Hosni Mubarak (she claimed to be the daughter of late president Hosni Mubarak) posted a video alleging the existence of an organ-trafficking network on the platform. In her video, Marwa accused an actress and a group of TikTokers of being involved in the trade, naming some as victims of organ theft and others as participants in the network.
Among the alleged victims, Marwa named a well-known football player, claiming he died after having a kidney stolen, contradicting his own statements in videos where he said he had been receiving cancer treatment. She also cited the case of a boy who disappeared from his family several years ago and has never been found, alleging that he was kidnapped and had his organs stolen by the same individuals she had accused.
This prompted the boy’s mother to request her to submit her testimony to the prosecution. However, the mother’s lawyer, Ahmed Mahran, stated that Marwa repeated her claims during questioning but failed to provide any evidence.
In reaction to the video, an unknown man posted another video claiming he had sold a kidney to a TikTok content creator. The Interior Ministry later announced his arrest, confirming that he admitted to donating a kidney for money two years earlier in a private hospital. He confessed that the allegation of selling it to a TikToker was false and intended only to boost his views and earnings.
Some viewers also circulated videos showing TikTokers accused by Marwa of organ trafficking giving money to others she claimed were victims. Many followers suggested the payments were in exchange for organ donations, though none provided concrete evidence.
Meanwhile, as the crackdown intensified, many TikTokers shut down their accounts, while others deleted questionable content to avoid legal repercussions.
In parallel with the legal and public complaints against the TikTokers involved and the ministry’s enforcement campaigns, MP Ahmed Badawi, head of the Communications and Information Technology Committee at the House of Representatives, announced that the committee had coordinated with the Supreme Council for Media Regulation to give TikTok a three-month deadline to regularise its operations in Egypt.
TikTok has recently removed about 2.8 million indecent videos and is working to align its content with Egypt’s Law on Combating Information Technology Crimes, Badawi said. Many TikTokers have posted material that falls under the scope of cybercrimes, including broadcasting content that goes against societal values and morals, spreading rumours, fabricating lies and false information, and fuelling a sense of frustration to unsettle the public.
In a televised statement, Badawi added that TikTok’s regional manager is currently in Cairo and in contact with the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, which has insisted that all platforms, not just TikTok, must have a legal representative present in Egypt.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 21 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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