Naija Blog reports that eight TikTok content creators have been arrested across Egypt in less than a week, in what rights groups are calling a renewed crackdown on freedom of expression and online visibility—particularly targeting women from working-class backgrounds.

Egypt’s interior ministry announced the arrests, accusing the creators of posting videos that contain “obscene language,” “violate public morals,” and represent “misuse of social media platforms.” However, critics say the charges are vague and rooted in outdated morality laws used to stifle digital expression.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a prominent advocacy group, condemned the arrests, stating that authorities are seeking to “control public discourse” under the guise of protecting social values. The group urged an end to what it described as classist and gender-biased persecution of online creators.

“Authorities must stop prosecuting online content creators on vague, ethics- and class-based charges such as ‘violating Egyptian family values,’” said EIPR in a statement.

The current crackdown was reportedly triggered by an online smear campaign and a formal complaint filed by 32 lawyers who claimed the creators’ videos “posed a danger to young people” — though the nature of this danger was not specified.

Largest Crackdown Since 2020

Human rights officer Lobna Darwish of EIPR noted that this wave of arrests is the most severe since a 2020 campaign that targeted young women for dancing and lip-syncing on TikTok. Darwish also emphasized a “blatant class bias,” highlighting that the majority of those targeted are women from lower-middle-class communities who have found financial independence and fame online.

“The authorities are not just targeting the content, but the socio-economic mobility these platforms offer to women,” Darwish said.

Among those detained—most of them arrested at their homes—are female content creators known as Suzy al-Urduniya, Alia Qamaron, Um Mekka, Um Sajda, and Qamr al-Wekala. Male creators Modahm, Shaker, and Mohamed Abdel Aaty were also arrested.

Police claimed two of the individuals had “confessed to publishing videos to increase views and generate financial profits,” further alleging suspicion regarding the source of their newfound wealth.

The creators’ videos—many of which remain accessible—span lighthearted content such as lip-sync performances, comedy skits, and promotional clips for affordable beauty products, often filmed in modest, working-class settings.

As public scrutiny mounts, human rights advocates continue to call for the release of those detained and for the Egyptian government to reconsider its approach to regulating online content.