OMM Newsroom
A billboard spanning one of Egypt’s busiest highways was hacked on Thursday and made to broadcast pornographic footage, according to Egyptian authorities and local media, CNN reported.
The screen, on Cairo’s 26th of July Axis, drew attention on social media as motorists stopped their cars and recorded the footage on their phones.
Footage shared online showed text over the video reading, “Leaked by: Ch, 19ylegal never and nivex”, along with the name of a Telegram channel and the username @LeakersGov.
On Friday, the account posted a message saying: “Egypt remains under a dictatorship. The government maintains its power through repression, while the country struggles to move forward. Years pass, but nothing changes and people’s lives don’t improve.”
Ministry says international company was targeted
Egypt’s Interior Ministry said the screen belonged to an advertising firm that had a contract with an international company. The company’s website was hit by a cyberattack, resulting in the unauthorized footage being broadcast, the ministry said.
The ministry added that the breach occurred “in several other countries, simultaneously”. It did not name the company or specify which other countries were affected. Local media reported that sexually explicit footage was also shown on electronic billboards in Iraq, Malaysia and Brazil.
“Legal proceedings have been initiated,” the ministry said.
Incident draws mixed reactions
Social media responses ranged from shock to amusement. Much of Egyptian society is highly conservative and supports strict moral codes aligned with Islamic sharia law.
Authorities in the region have previously had to switch off electronic advertising boards after pornographic footage appeared on their screens. Egyptian courts have also tried to block pornographic websites, although private online access remains widespread.
Egypt was among the top 20 countries visiting pornographic websites in 2025, according to “Pornhub Insights”. The United States ranked first.
Egypt has been under military-led rule since the Muslim Brotherhood was overthrown in 2013.
