Egypt criminalizes circulation of false weather forecast

The Egyptian Cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft law criminalizing the circulation of false weather forecast.

The draft law imposes fines ranging from EGP 100,000 ($4,000) to EGP 5 million on providing meteorological services without a license or posting false information about weather conditions through different channels, including social media, Ahram online reports.

The statement issued by the cabinet also says the draft law imposed the same fine on establishing and operating meteorological stations, or weather forecast centers, without obtaining a license from the authority.

The draft law targets those issuing any meteorological data, information, reports, or studies and falsely attribute them to the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA).

Purchasing meteorological equipment or stations that do not meet the technical specifications approved by the authority and that are bought without the EMA’s consent is punishable by the same fine, according to the statement.

The law vests power into the court to issue orders to confiscate the equipment and tools used to commit the crime and hand them to the EMA.