Egypt experiences an increasingly strict regulation of the internet. And this went further as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi signed a cybercrime law that makes it illegal to run and even visit websites considered threats to the country's economy and national security.

The Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes legislation here prohibits the "promotion of the ideas of terrorist organizations."

Originally approved by the Egyptian parliament in May, it also bans the dissemination of information on the movement of security forces and imposes strict punishments for hacking government information systems.

Those convicted should pay fines of up to E£100,000 ($5,593), or in some cases, sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Similar moves were made by Hosni Mubarak. At that time, his regime has tried to cut off most connection methods, including digital and the internet.

The law by Al-Sisi is focused on fighting terrorism. But Al-Sisi here is more aggressive as he is aware of the technology's potential as a revolutionary tool. Strengthening the regulations, Al-Sisi also requires internet service providers to save and release personal information to security services upon their request and following the issuance of a judicial order.

Human rights groups accuse the government of trying to crush all political dissent in the country, saying that the authorities were increasingly using counterterrorism and state-of-emergency laws and courts to unjustly prosecute journalists, activists, and critics for peaceful criticism.

The Cairo-based Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression said more than 500 websites had already been blocked in Egypt prior to the law being signed. It even went as far as blocking major news outlets like Al Jazeera, thinking that it might present a less-than-flattering image to the nation's leadership.

Those that were arrested include blogger and rights defender Wael Abbas; Amal Fathy, a political activist and the wife of the head of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms; and the comic Shady Abu Zaid.

Previously, the country's parliament has also passed legislation strengthening the government's ability to target Social Media. It has categorized social media accounts with more than 5,000 followers as public websites, and put them under surveillance.