Egypt's COP27 Wi-Fi blocks internet access to news portals, human rights groups

As COP27 kicked off in Egypt on Sunday, attendees of climate change conference noticed that internet connection at summit blocked access to websites of Human Rights Watch (HRW) and some news portals, according to Guardian. list of blocked websites includes HRW, which is set to conduct a panel discussion at conference. It also includes Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera, American publishing platform Medium, and Egypt’s sole independent news outlet, Ma Masr. 

observation of attendees was backed by Alexandria Villaseñor, an activist associated with climate organisation 'Earth Uprising'. In a post on Twitter, Villaseñor wrote: “re are so many blocked websites in Egypt at #Cop27, that it is noticeable and hard for us to work. We can’t use our @Earth_Uprising Medium site, because Medium is blocked. News agencies we refer to are blocked. re is no climate action without truth and information.”

HRW environment director Richard Pearshouse also commented on internet ban, and claimed that “Egyptian authorities have blocked access to about 700 websites, including independent news media and civil society groups.” Pearshouse said that move halts access to crucial information that could encourage insightful discussions, including environmental and human rights issues. "Effective climate action requires more people voicing opinions, not fewer,” he said. 

HRW also recalled Egyptian government’s recent crackdown on independent research and environmental activists prior to summit, which instilled fears of arrests and shutdowns of organizations. “Anor obstacle to independent research is severe limitation on access to information,” it said, ding that censorship, teamed up with journalist prosecutions, has caused major challenges in accessing information and reporting on important matters concerning environment.  

Does Egypt attempt to control public's access to information?

Attendees of COP27 are now fearing that blocking access to certain websites is an attempt by Egyptian authorities to detach climate talks from issues of human rights, and overall control and limit information received by attendees inside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. 

Egypt has h a long history of blocking internet access to independent news websites like Ma Masr and Al Jazeera, following imprisonment of latter’s journalists. Mahmoud Hussein, an Egyptian journalist for Al Jazeera, served four years in Egypt’s prison without any charges or trial, and was accused of disseminating fake news and being a threat to national security. He was later released in February 2021.