Luxor4u

A new social media network similar to facebook was launched in Egypt recently, under the name ‘Egypt Face’. Founders of the website remain unknown, however it is believed that it is a project by the Egyptian government.

According to local media reports, the Communication Minister, Yasser al-Qadi, said a little under two weeks before the launch of the website that Egypt was set to launch its own social network that will rival the global tech giants such as Facebook.



Many Egyptians said through global social media outlets that they were able to sign-up for the new social network, and spoke of their experiences using the website. The registration of the site’s domain ‘egface.com’ came two days after the statements from the Communications Minister.

On March 11, Qadi said that Egypt is taking concrete steps towards establishing a social networking platform similar to Facebook, without however providing any further details regarding the project.

He explained that the period after the January 25 revolution in 2011, but more-so recently, has witnessed a great deal of interaction between citizens through social media.

He pointed out that the protection of data and information is very important and that the Egyptian state is keen on safeguarding the personal privacy of its citizens.

He added that Egypt has a comprehensive strategy for the development and dissemination of new ideas and the modernization of the country’s information and technological infrastructure. The state is also developing its tools to combat terrorism, including improved legal frameworks that contribute to the protection of citizens and society as a whole.

“The Egyptian state has a clear strategy in the fight against extremism through thoughts,” Qadi said, stressing that the government plays an important role in this regard via various institutions, especially in the field of educating the society about the dangers of terrorism-inspired ideas

He added that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued directives to increase the volume of Egyptian information technology exports to reach between US$10-15 billion over the next two years. Qadi said that the volume of these exports during the past two years amounted to US$3.6 billion.

Source: http://www.egyptindependent.com/egyptia ... gypt-face/

Well it looks like the new Egyptian social media site (spybook) is down, what new?, just a normal day for Egypt

"egface.com" ?

Should that be "egg-on-face.com"?

Says it all really.....

Its in keeping with most things here egfarce.com

Well its up and running though it looks like they have tried to rip a lot of stuff from facebook Of course Egypt never copies anyone knowing the Egyptians they will sue facebook for stealing their ideas

https://egface.com/

Egypt must of gone all liberal allowing a smilie of "2 men in love" maybe its a ploy, anyone who uses it "MUST BE GAY" so they will arrest them (beware)

Looks like a possibility of the founders disappearing into the sand storm never to be seen again. It was opened and then closed by the Government so by opening it up again to the Government will be seen as a breach to security. Why I dont know because not everything is a security problem. But there you go!!

Major Thom wrote:I dont know because not everything is a security problem. But there you go!!

Eating a BANANA in a music video is a threat to national security so I expect everything else is too

Have you all signed up?

lol

Not myself, not interested. I prefer to use internet sites where freedom of speech, rules. (Freedom of speech withing reason of course)

Well I only managed to get access to egface on facebook, all it say's is welcome to egface.
Bit pointless really imho....
Ps: "nothing ventured nothing gained" Oh! and if you don't first succeed try and try and try and try and try and try and try...
Any idea how their space programme is proceeding..

I thought that the earth was flat idea had been disproved. but then again, this is Egypt.

I think its ownership/control is well known and locals with a brain will stay away from it. Maybe the new Russian/Chinese friends helped with this project to begin putting a wall around Egypt. I doubt there were local skills to do it. They have always just been buyers - of dirty software to spy on their people particularly from an Italian firm - now bankrupted because of public revulsion'leaks. I'm not aware of a single bit of software/hardware invented/manufactured locally. They don't even do basic assembly or call centers.

The proposal for $US10-15 billion in IT exports is beyond delusional. Egypt has no/a hopeless/microscopic IT industry, no IT multinational has invested a penny in Egypt for good reasons, local (those that haven't 'run away') skills are appalling, local universities are abysmal in this area, the banks only loan to friends/construction types not to high tech start ups, local venture capital firms do the same and international venture capital firms ran away long ago. Local management skills are appalling - particularly in the army.

My guess is that the President is promising a minimum 1000% increase (probably more) in 2 years from a small low value added product/service base. Madness. Not even Bill Gates grew so fast - and he invented things.

Its gets worse. No one builds a high tech industry from nothing let alone overnight yet the Presidents proposal is that nothing will in 2 years become half of total Egyptian exports. Its impossible - except if you have a careful 10 year plan based on best international advice and heavy investment to build local skills. An alliance with an IT multinational would be a good idea. No western IT firm worried about its reputation and connection with autocracies will touch Egypt at the present time although a Communist Party of China IT firm might (Don't ask them about their ruthless persecution of their 50 million Muslims).

He is trying to build a house on no foundations. India and China have spent 2/3 decades building their world class IT industry and it was based on careful long term planning - and enthusiastic, educated and enterprising young people.

I suspect that the same drongos who own the facebook clone are setting up a new industry for their benefit. It will be no better than 70 years of their previous attempts but will burn a lot of taxpayers money and unfairly raise expectations.

Given its low wage base its more than remarkable that Egypt has never developed much of an export oriented manufacturing base. Cotton weaving and related have basically died a slow death since the arrival of the 'military saviors' of mankind and their Great Socialist Revolution. Food processing or high value added agricultural products are puny with low quality. By contrast China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh (particularly) and many others have gone down this path with great success. Why not Egypt. If you go down a manufacturing, particularly basic manufacturing path, you are guaranteed big jobs growth and Egypt's geographical proximity to Europe gives it a big time/cost advantage. The military doesn't much like manufacturing.

An aside for the historical obsessive. As the UK weaving/looming/spinning industry was collapsing in the late 60's the machinery was purchased by Indians and shipped there to re-establish their textiles industry - something they now dominate. Its an enterprising/initiative spirit like that which has turned great India around but I doubt an Egyptian would contaminate their dignity with cast offs. Good luck to the Indians they deserve success because they work hard for it.

The biographies of the greats of the IT industry show similar enterprise and penury something lacking in Egypt.

Good Post Hafiz and so true!