Cairo: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Sunday criticized a surge in daily rumors on social media and false reports carried by foreign media outlets that are hostile to Egypt. Madbouly said the spread of misinformation aimed to sow confusion and that the state is working to counter it through designated mechanisms as part of a strategy implemented by several government bodies. A key element of that strategy, he said, is the prompt publication of verified facts. He added that authorities must also take a firm stance against individuals who deliberately seek to harm the state.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Madbouly made the remarks during a meeting to review procedures for activating mechanisms to counter rumors. The meeting was attended by Communications and Information Technology Minister Amr Talaat and other relevant ministers and officials. 'Despite the efforts made by government bodies to respond to such misinformation, there must be deterrent measures against those who fabricate incidents and publish misleading news aimed at harming the national economy,' Madbouly said.

Cabinet spokesperson Mohamed El-Homosani said the meeting reviewed the work of ministries and government agencies involved in countering rumors, including the ministries of Awqaf, Interior, and Communications and Information Technology. It also examined the efforts of the Youth and Sports Ministry, which recently established the 'Stand with Us' unit to address rumor-related challenges, as well as those of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the National Press Authority, and the National Media Authority. Homosani said the meeting underscored that current laws contain penalties for publishing false news via media outlets or social media when such reports may harm society or the public interest, and that these measures are intended to provide sufficient deterrence.