Egypt’s Supreme Council for the Regulation of the Media is a government regulatory body established under Law No. 92 of 2016 and first formed in April 2017. Although Egypt’s Constitution describes it as an independent body, the President directly appoints its head and most members. The council licenses all media outlets, newspapers, and websites operating in Egypt; it has the authority to block websites, suspend publications, and prevent content deemed threatening to “national security.” The SCMR has been criticized for creating “a restrictive media regulatory scheme that grants authorities broad discretion to censor or block content,” severely constraining independent journalism in Egypt.