The nation’s talking heads focused their coverage last night on the controversy surrounding the new Criminal Procedures Law draft being debated in the House of Representatives.

Attracting most attention was Article 79 of the draft law, which concerns monitoring social media, email, messages, and communication. MP Freddy El Baiady told Kelma Akhira's Lamees El Hadidi that the article “violates the constitution" which protects privacy rights and prohibits surveillance without a justified judicial order for a specific duration (watch, runtime: 3:29). El Baiady added that he is calling for an amendment to limit the number of times an individual can be put under surveillance to three times, “rather than allowing lifetime surveillance of suspects.”

Article 67 was also a concern to some, with El Hadidi highlighting that some consider the article to be “primarily targeting journalists” as it stipulates that “investigation procedures and results are considered confidential and may only be disclosed through official statements by the public prosecution or relevant investigative authority, with penalties for violators” (watch, runtime: 11:08). MP and member of the House Legislative Affairs Committee Ahmed El Sharkawy assured El Hadidi that the article “isn't about publishing crimes or media coverage,” but rather concerns “those who handle investigation documents during ongoing investigations.” El Sharkawy added that separate laws govern media coverage.

El Hekayah’s Amr Adib also gave airtime to the subject (watch, runtime: 17:17).

ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- “A ceasefire agreement in Gaza could be announced within the next 48 hours, with the first phase including the release of 34 Israeli hostages held by Hamas alongside Palestinian prisoners held by Israel,” former Assistant Foreign Minister Hussein Haridy told Ala Mas'ouleety's Ahmed Moussa. He added that “this phase would last six to eight weeks,” (watch, runtime: 3:28). Adib gave airtime to the news as well (watch, runtime: 15:27).

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