Rise in Cybercrimes in Egypt: Artificial Intelligence Between Innovation and Exploitation

In the midst of rapid technological advancement, cybercrimes have become a significant threat to societies, and Egypt is no exception. According to recent reports, the country has witnessed a noticeable increase in the number of cybercrimes, especially with the advanced use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Key Forms of Cybercrimes:
Online Fraud:
Using AI technologies, criminals have been able to mimic the voices and faces of victims to deceive their relatives and steal their money.
Example: A well-known case involved an Egyptian woman who was blackmailed through a fake call using a voice similar to her son’s.

Phishing:
Fraudulent messages that appear genuine, thanks to AI, have led to the theft of personal data and bank accounts.

Deepfake Videos:
Fake videos of celebrities or ordinary citizens have been used for blackmail or defamation.

Countermeasures:
The Egyptian government issued a law to combat cybercrimes in 2018 and has begun enhancing cooperation with global tech companies to track down criminals.

Awareness campaigns have been launched to warn citizens about the dangers of cybercrimes.

Prevention Tips:
Avoid sharing personal information online.

Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

Avoid opening suspicious links or files.