Egypt detains entire newsroom of leading fact-checking platform over 'fake news' allegations

According to the source, Egypt's authorities have detained the entire newsroom of Matsada2sh, a leading fact-checking platform, over allegations of spreading fake news. The arrests occurred on September 28 and 29, 2026, and involve six journalists: Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Abdallah Qadry, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Mohamed Adel.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a press freedom watchdog, denounced the arrests as the "first" to target all staff of a media organization in Egypt. The group criticized the authorities for failing to reveal the journalists' whereabouts and accused the action of violating the Egyptian Constitution.

Rights groups, including Reporters Without Borders, alleged that the Egyptian authorities confiscated the journalists' phones, laptops, and those of their family members during the raids. They also refused to present arrest warrants or disclose the locations where the journalists would be held.

Matsada2sh, founded in 2018, is known for correcting misleading or inaccurate information from various sources, including official government sources and opposition media. One of the platform's editors was previously detained in 2023 over similar allegations but was released two days later.

The accusations against Matsada2sh include operating an unlicensed platform run from abroad and affiliating with the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition group in Egypt. The group has been outlawed since 2014 under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government.

Egyptian authorities accused Matsada2sh of spreading fake news and being affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. One of the platform's editors was previously detained in 2023 over similar allegations but was released two days later.