Egyptian authorities have detained dozens of teenage TikTok influencers, many with large followings, on allegations such as violating family values and money laundering.
Prosecutors are actively investigating at least 10 cases of suspected unlawful financial gains, while travel bans, asset freezes, and device confiscations have been enforced.
Among those arrested is 19-year-old Mariam Ayman, better known as Suzy El Ordonia, who has amassed approximately 9.4 million followers. She’s been in custody since August 2, facing charges of distributing indecent content and laundering around 15 million Egyptian pounds (roughly $300,000).
In her final social media video before arrest, Suzy acknowledged using strong language and jokes—not intending to set a bad example—and stated, “Egyptians don’t get arrested just because they appear on TikTok.”
Rights groups, including the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), have criticized this campaign as an “aggressive security campaign” built around vague morality laws rooted in a 2018 cybercrime law that criminalizes infringing upon “principles or family values in Egyptian society.”
Since 2018, the EIPR has tracked at least 151 individuals charged under similar provisions in more than 109 cases—likely an undercount.
