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Is Sisi shutting down internet freedom in Egypt?

During the demonstrations that broke out across several governorates in Egypt, many news websites were blocked, not to mention the censorship of many social networking sites.
BERLIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 30: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not pictured) speak to the media following bilateral talks prior to the "Compact with Africa" conference at the Chancellery on October 30, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. The leaders of a dozen African countries are in Berlin for the conference, which is an initiative launched by the G20 presidency and centers on private investment in African economies.  (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
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CAIRO — The anti-government demonstrations that broke out in a number of Egyptian governorates Sept. 20 were met with further restrictions on the press and other media, including the blocking of several international news websites, the denial of internet access and the hindering of social networking sites.

Netblocks, an Egyptian company that tracks online disruptions, reported Sept. 22 that major internet service providers in Egypt had begun to restrict access to some websites and that disruptions had hit several social media platforms and news websites, including the Arabic versions of BBC Arabic and Al-Hurra. It also reported widespread censorship of several news sites and restrictions on Facebook images by telecom providers Telecom Egypt and Raya Holding for Financial Investments. Netblocks emphasized that these restrictions undermine freedom of the press and the right of assembly and noted that the current responses come at a time when political opposition is being curtailed and protesters arrested.

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