Home Vodafone Forced to Send Pro-Government Text Messages in Egypt

Vodafone Forced to Send Pro-Government Text Messages in Egypt

Telecommunications company Vodafone says that it has been forced to send pro-government messages to its subscribers in Egypt during the country’s recent protests.

In a short press statement released today, the network said that the Egyptian government had invoked emergency powers to instruct the mobile networks of Mobinil, Etisalat and Vodafone to send scripted messages to subscribers.

These messages included statements like “The Armed Forces asks Egypt’s honest and loyal men to confront the traitors and criminals and protect our people and honor and our precious Egypt.”

“These messages are not scripted by any of the mobile network operators and we do not have the ability to respond to the authorities on their content,” says the company. Vodafone claims it has protested the Egyptian government’s demands and regards these messages as “unacceptable.”

“We have made clear that all messages should be transparent and clearly attributable to the originator,” today’s statement reads.

The company has come under fire for its role in the week-long Internet blackout.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.