Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Access to Information in Egypt

Salem, Shawky (2007) Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Access to Information in Egypt. Pakistan Journal of Library and Information Science 2007(8):pp. 33-49.

Full text available as: PDF - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF viewer.

Abstract

This paper discusses the issues of intellectual freedom and the security of information and documents in Egypt. It establishes that there are no policies in the country about both keeping secrecy of the sensitive governmental data and providing access to information. The administrative fear of providing information, bureaucratic procedures, security levels on distribution and the human nature of hiding information lead to tight security of information and censorship. This situation raises many rational inquiries. Do we need "Internet Archives" for Egyptian websites? Who will do it? Do we need “Internet Archives” specifically for Arab world websites and who will do it? The paper attempts to make suggestions to improve the free access to information.

Keywords:	Freedom of expression; Freedom of access to information; Censorship; Internet; Egypt; Bibliotheca Alexandria
Subjects:	B. Information use and sociology of information. > BA. Use and impact of information.
ID Code:	11535
Deposited By:	Shaheen, Maqsood
Deposited On:	26 September 2007
Alternative Locations:	http://www.pu.edu.pk/dlis/pjlis/index.html
All fields:	Show all fields

Dunford, R. (1987). The suppression of technology as a strategy for controlling resource dependence. Administrative Science Quarterly, 32, 512-525.

Egypt. Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. (1999). Web page of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology 2007, Retrieved March 23, 2007, from http://www.mcit.gov.eg.

Ismail, A. (1995a). Software in 1994-. Framingham MA: International Data Corporation.

Ismail, A. (1995b). The Egyptian PC market 1994-1999. Framingham MA: International Data Corporation.

National Library of Egypt (1995). Legal deposit 1952-1995. NLE yearly issue.

Salem, S. (2000). The drive towards a national information infrastructure in Egypt: An overview. Journal of Information Science, 26 (1), 71-74.

Stearns, L. (1992). Copy wrong: Plagiarism, process, property, and the law. California Law Review, 80 (2), 513-553.

Archive Staff Only: edit this record