Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has warned that attempts to destabilize the state are ongoing, and that the public must remain vigilant. In a speech on September 17, 2026, El-Sisi stated that the events of 2011-2013 have not ended, and that the goal of overthrowing the state remains a threat. He emphasized that the responsibility to address this threat lies not only with state institutions, but also with the public.
The Muslim Brotherhood has been using social media and other digital platforms to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion. According to Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, the Brotherhood has used fake accounts and pages to spread political and news content, and to artificially inflate engagement. In October 2020, Meta announced that it had removed a network of accounts linked to the Brotherhood, which operated from Egypt, Turkey, and Morocco.
The Brotherhood's tactics involve creating and disseminating content that appears to come from independent sources, but is actually part of a coordinated campaign. This content can take many forms, including social media posts, news articles, and videos. The goal is to create a narrative that is hostile to the state, and to make it difficult for the public to distinguish between fact and fiction.
One of the key strategies used by the Brotherhood is to reuse and recycle old content, presenting it as new and relevant. This can involve dusting off old stories, or reusing images and videos from previous events. By doing so, the Brotherhood aims to create the impression that the state's problems are ongoing and intractable.
The Brotherhood's use of social media and other digital platforms has allowed it to reach a wider audience and to create a sense of momentum around its narrative. However, this has also created new challenges for the state, which must now contend with the spread of misinformation and manipulation on a large scale.
To counter the Brotherhood's tactics, the state has taken steps to improve its online presence and to promote fact-based information. This includes working with social media companies to identify and remove fake accounts, as well as promoting media literacy and critical thinking among the public.
The battle over information in Egypt is likely to continue, with the Brotherhood and other groups seeking to exploit the country's digital platforms for their own purposes. However, by remaining vigilant and working to promote fact-based information, the state and the public can work together to counter the spread of misinformation and to promote a more informed and engaged citizenry.
Key points
- The Muslim Brotherhood is using social media and other digital platforms to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion in Egypt.
- The Brotherhood's tactics involve creating and disseminating content that appears to come from independent sources, but is actually part of a coordinated campaign.
- The state has taken steps to improve its online presence and to promote fact-based information, but the battle over information in Egypt is likely to continue.
