Egypt police search mobile phones for anti-government content ahead of COP27

As Egyptian activists call for protests to coincide with the UN climate summit next month, security forces have erected checkpoints in the street and are checking mobile phones for anti-government content.

Egypt's social media is witnessing some calls for protests on 11.11 as the country hosts #COP27. Gov't reacted as usual by hysterical checkpoints in vital streets arbitrarily picking ppl to open their phones for unlawful checks into their contents. pic.twitter.com/h7C8ztFHs8

— Amr Magdi (@ganobi) October 20, 2022

People found with critical posts could be arrested and detained, even though electronic correspondence can only be examined with a judicial order.

Egypt police going through mobile phones is an incredibly scary thing. You can be an apolitical person with an anti-gov meme or joke on your Facebook timeline. This can get you arrested and you won’t know when or how you will get out.

— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) October 20, 2022

Spot checks usually take place in the lead up to the anniversary of the January 2011 uprising, when Egyptians overthrew dictator Hosni Mubarak, and 30 June, when the military ousted President Mohamed Morsi.

Security personnel were deployed in the main squares across the capital to deter Egyptians from gathering to demonstrate.

READ: US Senator blocks $75m aid to Egypt over failure to make human rights reform

Many citizens were warned not to return to Tahrir Square, the centre of the 2011 protests, or surrounding streets where they anticipated more protests could be held.

Others were transferred to police stations for investigation and interrogated about why they were in the area and whether they were planning to take part in protests.

The roadblocks began to appear more frequently following the September protests which took place in 2019 and 2020 when dozens of protesters took to the streets calling on President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to stand down.

Social media users reported that public transportation was being stopped and passengers were asked to get off so that their ID cards and social media accounts could be checked.

Police in downtown Cairo have started stopping pedestrians to check the contents of their mobile phones. This has become a usual measure around the month of Jan when we approach the anniversary of the uprising. Apparently this year it's happening earlier courtesy of #COP27

— Sanaa (@sana2) October 18, 2022

In 2013 the Egyptian government effectively banned protests with a new law which promised hefty fines and jail time for demonstrating.

As well as calls to protest, Egyptian human rights defenders have been raising the pressure on the government to stop committing violations ahead of COP27.

Cop Civic Space, an Egyptian human rights coalition on COP27, is calling on Egyptian authorities to release thousands of political prisoners.