Social media activists in Egypt are worried that a new law that puts them under state monitoring is targeting freedom of expression and will strangle the opposition's voice.

On July 16, the Egyptian parliament approved the press and media law, which stipulates that any website, personal blog or personal social media account with 5,000 or more followers shall not publish or propagate false news or posts that incite violence, hatred, fanaticism or racism; libel individuals; or insult religions.

The law, which next goes to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for his signature, also entrusts the Supreme Council for Media Regulation with taking any measures necessary against violations. The council can suspend or block websites, blogs and personal accounts if their owners violate the law.

Several human rights groups and activists have condemned the new law. On July 2, Amnesty International released a statement quoting Najia Bounaim, its North Africa campaign director, as saying the new regulation "would increase the Egyptian government's already broad powers to monitor, censor and block social media and blogs, as well as criminalize content that violates vaguely defined political, social or religious norms."