CAIRO — During its general session on Jan. 13, Egyptian parliament passed a bill on public shops that the government had submitted in December 2017. The bill includes controversial Article 27, which forces restaurant and shop owners to install indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras. The government argues that this article aims to prevent terrorist operations and track down the culprits.

After parliamentary approval, Article 27 reads as follows: “Public shops shall commit to installing indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras, as per conditions approved by the committee [a governmental committee that grants licenses for shops in each neighborhood or region], which determines the necessary requirements and activities for installing cameras and the places and activities where surveillance cameras should not be allowed.”

The article angered some members of parliament. Parliament member Mohammad Salah Abdel Badi argued that strict conditions must regulate the installation of surveillance cameras to ensure the personal freedom and privacy of citizens.

He told Al-Monitor, “Surveillance cameras must be installed in spots where people can see them to avoid restaurant and shop owners’ misuse of these cameras.”