Huge fine for rumor mongers about the weather in Egypt

Egypt's parliament has approved a law reorganizing the General Authority of Meteorology, which punishes anyone who publishes incorrect meteorological or weather information on social media with a fine of up to 5 million pounds (about $160,<>).

According to the new draft law, anyone who provides meteorological services of all kinds without a license will be fined at least EGP 50k (about $1600,5) and not more than EGP <> mn, according to Akhbar Al Youm.

The law punishes those who publish incorrect information by any means of dissemination, as well as those who establish or operate meteorological stations of any kind or weather or marine forecast centers without a license.

The "Parliament News Agency" quoted the report of the joint committee as saying that the field of meteorology is a fertile field to attract foreign investments, while the state seeks to achieve development goals and preserve its capabilities.

The report included that "the draft law will reduce the size of the losses resulting from the dissemination of false news or the dissemination of inaccurate data and news in relation to meteorology, pointing out that it "may harm the economy, waste billions and may postpone tourist trips and economic operations."

House member Ashraf al-Shabrawy said that the new law preserves the state's capabilities and reduces the size of losses, and continued in a televised statement, "The government saw the harsher punishment, so that it is commensurate with the crime of spreading rumors."

For her part, the director of the Remote Sensing Center at the Meteorological Authority, Iman Shaker, said in previous statements, "The law is organized and applied in all countries of the world," noting that its activation will limit the spread of rumors that cause panic among citizens.

It is noteworthy that the General Authority of Meteorology is one of the scientific and applied sectors of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and was established by Presidential Decree No. 2934 of 1971, under which it became the management of the facility at the level of the Republic.