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Egypt: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: The law sets some anti-bullying rules but leaves much of the detail to schools, and online bullying is only partly covered. Check your school's own policy. Takedown help is limited, so report harmful posts to the platform first. Serious online abuse can be a crime.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
Country
Egypt
Bullying has been a crime since 2020, schools must combat it under ministry rules, and phones are banned in schools.
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One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Partly:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Partly. There is no school anti-bullying law, but Ministry of Education rules for public and private schools require schools to combat bullying in all its forms and ban physical and psychological punishment.
Legal detail and sources
The rules for each school year are issued by ministerial decree; schools also rely on social workers and psychologists. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (CairoScene), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Partly:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Partly. The school rules do not single out online bullying, but cybercrime law covers online harassment, and the bullying offence applies however it is carried out.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer relies on legal commentary or other non-official summaries (Plan International), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Partly:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Partly. There is no takedown regulator for bullying. Article 7 of the 2018 Cybercrime Law (Law 175 of 2018) lets investigating authorities order websites blocked when their content is a crime and threatens national security or the economy.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer relies on legal commentary or other non-official summaries (AFTE), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- No:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No legal minimum age for social media. In January 2026 the national child-protection council set out online 'red lines' as Parliament began drafting rules on children's access to social media.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (MEA Tech Watch), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Yes:
What are the rules on phones at school?
Yes. A Ministry of Education directive enforcing Ministerial Resolution 187 of 2023 bans phone use in all schools during the school day.
Legal detail and sources
Earlier rules banned phones with cameras outright. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (Egypt Independent and CairoScene), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Yes:
When is online abuse a crime?
Yes. Since 2020, article 309 bis (b) of the Penal Code makes bullying a crime. A 2023 amendment raised the penalties to up to one year in prison and a fine of up to EGP 100,000, with heavier penalties for group bullying or when the bully has authority over the victim.
Legal detail and sources
Law 189 of 2020 created the offence. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (Egyptian Streets and CairoScene) and other non-official summaries, not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Mondaq (Youssry Saleh & Partners): the bullying offence in article 309 bis (b) of the Penal Code (opens in a new tab)
- Egyptian Streets: Parliament approves tougher penalties for harassment and bullying (November 2023) (opens in a new tab)
- CairoScene: new penalties for bullying under article 309 (B) (opens in a new tab)
- Partly:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Partly. Ministry rules give school social workers and psychologists a role in dealing with bullying, but there is no national anti-bullying training requirement.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (CairoScene), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
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