Yes, web scraping is legal in Egypt under specific conditions, but it must comply with local data protection and cybercrime laws. The Egyptian Data Protection Law (Law No. 151 of 2020) and the Cybercrime Law (Law No. 175 of 2018) govern data collection, requiring consent for personal data and prohibiting unauthorized access to systems. Courts have not yet ruled definitively on scraping public data, but enforcement focuses on misuse rather than extraction itself. Businesses must align practices with the Personal Data Protection Center (PDPC) guidelines, effective 2026, which mandate transparency and purpose limitation.
Key Regulations for Web Scraping in Egypt
- Data Protection Law (2020): Requires explicit consent for scraping personal data, with penalties up to EGP 5 million (≈$160,000) for violations. The PDPC’s 2026 enforcement will scrutinize automated data collection.
- Cybercrime Law (2018): Criminalizes unauthorized access to systems or data, including bypassing security measures. Scraping protected databases (e.g., government portals) risks felony charges under Article 20.
- Copyright Law (2002): Prohibits scraping copyrighted content without permission. Aggregators must verify licensing agreements, as the Egyptian Copyright Office (ECO) enforces strict penalties for infringement.
Practical Compliance Steps:
- Audit Data Sources: Avoid scraping personal data or copyrighted material without legal basis.
- Implement Rate Limiting: Prevent server overload, which may trigger cybercrime investigations.
- Disclose Intent: Publish privacy policies aligning with PDPC’s 2026 transparency requirements.