(Ecofin Agency) - Despite the controversy around the cybercrime law, it was promulgated on Saturday, August 19, 2018, by Egypt’s president Abdel Fatah al-Sissi. This new text should, according to the authorities, boost the fight against terrorism.

Such an explanation is not convincing for experts who believe that this is another trick to reinforce the president’s control over the media, online particularly.

"Pursuant to this new law, authorities can block, via a judge, any website whose content constitutes a threat for national security or the economy" AFP reports.

Let’s note that according to the Cairo - based Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (Association pour la liberté de pensée et d’expression-AFTE), more than 500 news or NGO websites are currently blocked in Egypt.