Egyptian authorities are conducting a widespread crackdown on social media, specifically targeting teenage TikTok users with millions of followers. Dozens have been arrested and detained in recent weeks, facing accusations ranging from violating family values to money laundering.

• Over dozens of arrests have been made, with at least 10 cases of alleged unlawful financial gains under investigation.
• One notable detainee is Mariam Ayman (also known as Suzy El Ordonia), a 19-year-old TikTokker with 9.4 million followers, who has been jailed since August 2 on charges of distributing indecent content and laundering 15 million pounds ($300,000).
• Critics argue this crackdown is part of a broader state effort to police speech and control conduct, using vague indecency laws and a broadly worded article from a 2018 cybercrime law that criminalizes infringing on "any of the principles or family values in Egyptian society."