Privacy News Egypt refers 4 mobile operators to Public Prosecution over misuse of citizens’ personal data

[Parkinsond]

Content source

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/148821/Egypt-refers-4-mobile-operators-to-Public-Prosecution-over-misuse

CAIRO – 10 August 2026: Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has referred the country’s four mobile operators—Etisalat, Vodafone, Orange, and WE—to the Public Prosecution over violations involving the registration of mobile phone numbers using citizens’ personal data without their knowledge or consent.

The NTRA said the referral followed complaints from users who discovered that mobile phone numbers had been registered using their personal data without their knowledge or consent.

Egypt refers 4 mobile operators to Public Prosecution over misuse of citizens’ personal data

Thousands of social media users have shared their experiences with telecommunications companies, including Etisalat, Vodafone, Orange, and WE, complaining that their personal data had been used to register SIM cards without their knowledge or consent.

www.egypttoday.com

 

[Parkinsond]

Egypt orders mass verification of Mobile SIM data, targeting 19 M lines in first phase

Egypt orders mass verification of Mobile SIM data, targeting 19 M lines in first phase

Egypt's four mobile operators have begun sending text messages to a large number of subscribers warning that their lines have been suspended over incomplete or outdated registration data

www.egypttoday.com

 

[Divine_Barakah]

I believe NTRA can make the process straightforward by allowing users to register lines through the app, demanding biometrics for verification.

 

[Parkinsond]

I believe NTRA can make the process straightforward by allowing users to register lines through the app, demanding biometrics for verification.

The same way they used our data after visiting the branches personally, they use your data offered through the app

 

[Divine_Barakah]

The same way they used our data after visiting the branches personally, they use your data offered through the app

I hope everything changes for the best. Egypt has a very special place in my heart.

 

[Wrecker4923]

I believe NTRA can make the process straightforward by allowing users to register lines through the app, demanding biometrics for verification.

From what I’ve seen in places that have this, they eventually have to upgrade their biometrics (usually your face) to counter 2D picture uploads. That can result in extra processing—either CPU-wise or network-wise—which makes individual registration and small vendors’ registration somewhat unreliable (and frustrating).

So if you’re in a city, it may be easier to visit the carrier’s branches.

In a way, the data misuse makes your life easier, even if they most likely end up with incorrect registrations some of the time. It’s surprising the government doesn’t encourage a consent-based registration using the existing data in the first place.

 

[Parkinsond]

It’s surprising the government doesn’t encourage a consent-based registration using the existing data in the first place

Gov is the sole owner of one company and a major shareholder of the second one (the operator with the largest market share); nothing will happen.
Just a measure to cool the rage down.