Cabinet: Misinformation in Egypt Rose 113% in H1 2026

The Cabinet Media Centre reported that rumours circulating in Egypt increased by 113% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, attributing the rise largely to regional crises and tensions.

According to the report, misinformation related to the impact of regional developments accounted for 57.3% of all rumours monitored between January and June 2026, up from 21.1% in the first half of 2025. March recorded the highest volume of rumours, representing 21% of the total, followed by April at 20.3%.

The report identified the economy as the most targeted sector, accounting for 14.4% of monitored rumours. Energy followed at 13.3%, ahead of commodity supplies at 11.6%, while tourism and aviation represented 11.4%. Other frequently targeted sectors included health (10.9%), housing (9.7%), education (7.9%), agriculture (7.8%), social protection (4.7%), transport (3.8%), and both communications and administrative reform (1.8% each).

Among the claims the government said it had refuted were allegations that Egypt planned to sell state assets to repay foreign debt, introduce nationwide four-hour power cuts, suspend internet services overnight to reduce electricity consumption, and was experiencing shortages of essential commodities. The report also cited false claims relating to an energy crisis, EgyptAir ticket prices, tourism losses and a purported radiation leak that had prompted school and university closures.

The Cabinet Media Centre said it continues to monitor traditional and social media platforms, analyse misinformation trends and coordinate with relevant authorities to issue official responses. It added that while misinformation in 2025 focused largely on state development projects, rumours linked to regional crises dominated during the first half of 2026, with the share targeting the energy sector rising from 6.1% to 13.3%.