The Egyptian Parliament discussed on Monday a draft law to regulate the operations of ride-hailing companies including US-based Uber and UAE-based Careem after it was referred by the cabinet last month following a verdict issued by Egypt’s Administrative Court to suspend the operation of both companies inside the country.
Parliament is to receive state security agencies’ response on whether to keep or eliminate articles 9 and 10, which Careem and Uber are opposed to because they constitute an “invasion of users’ privacy”. For his part, Hesham Abdel Wahed, head of parliament’s transport and communications committee, said in statements that there is no “issue” over the draft, noting, “the two articles were amended and both companies welcomed them.”
Abdel Wahed also stated that the draft “respects users’ privacy,” adding, “Egyptian national security and the higher interests of the state are above all else.”
On Saturday, members of the transport and communication, national security, economic affairs, and communications committees approved the draft in a session attended by Careem and Uber representatives. Some articles have raised controversy, particularly article 9, which is about handing users’ data to state bodies, especially since the draft law does not name said bodies.
