The Egyptian authorities, represented by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, have announced that new rules have been created and approved to regulate photography in public places for personal use. According to the law, tourists will no longer be able to charge money for filming, and tourists will no longer face the confiscation of their cameras. However, the law prohibits taking pictures of children, as well as taking pictures that may damage the country’s image. So climbing into the slums with a camera is still risky.
However, tourists no longer need to sneak photos of Egypt’s streets after the tourism ministry announced that amateur photography is now allowed in the country’s public spaces. The reason for the introduction of these rules was that foreign vloggers and opinion leaders on social networks in recent months drew attention to the Egyptian authorities’ practice of stopping people from taking photos and videos, even at tourist sites, and confiscating camera equipment.
“Photography using all types of traditional cameras, digital cameras, and video cameras will be allowed free of charge. No permission should be obtained in advance,” the new rules inform. Tourists have also complained about this, with local authorities asking for permission to film in public places and sometimes confiscating cameras and banning filming even when permission was in place.
Restrictions will remain in place for filming children. The rules also state that “it is strictly forbidden to take or share photos of scenes that may harm the country’s image in one way or another.” Therefore, it is still risky to come to the slums with cameras – especially since the residents hardly read the laws.