Egypt to monitor social network sites

Egypt’ Interior Ministry is after designing a security system to monitor social networking websites in a bid apparently aimed at beefing up surveillance on the activities of political dissidents, Press TV reports.

Many have criticized the plan for threatening the safety of internet for those who want to express their political views through social networking websites.

According to activists, the plan is aimed at keeping a watch on any person who makes anti-government remarks.

“The attempt by the government to impose surveillance on the social networks is nothing but a sign and evidence that it is losing credibility, legitimacy and even confidence,” Hazem Salem, an Egyptian activists said, adding, “They are not confident of themselves and the messages they are sending to the public, knowing that the public is disseminating a lot of ideas that are against the government.”

Egypt’s Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said the system would scan the sites to analyze and identify “destructive ideas” and conduct opinion polls to ward off their influence on youths.

Social networking websites played a crucial role in the Egyptian revolution against former dictator Hosni Mubarak.

The military-backed government of Egypt has launched a series of suppressive measures against the supporters of Muslim Brotherhood after toppling the government of first democratically-elected President Mohammad Morsi last year.

Some 1,400 people have lost their lives and thousands more arrested in the crackdown, according to Amnesty International.

Egypt held another presidential election this month following the ouster of Morsi. The former army General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi won the election with a landslide victory.