Government slammed over new media regulations

An international press freedom group says new regulations in Egypt amount to ‘extortion’ and aim to silence the country's last remaining independent media. Reporters Without Borders said the new law, which went into effect last month, requires online newspapers to register and pay exorbitant fees for licences. A report on the Alaraby site notes that it says websites would have to pay more than $30 000 to register, and up to five times that amount for non-compliance. Spokesperson Sophie Anmuth says 'the law is tantamount to extortion because journalists now have to pay if they want to work’.