Cyberattack forces explicit videos onto Cairo highway billboards

A digital billboard on Cairo's 26th of July Axis displayed pornographic videos on Thursday, interrupting traffic on one of Egypt's busiest roadways. Drivers stopped their vehicles to record the screen, and the footage quickly spread across social media platforms.

The text on the video identified the hackers as "Leaked by: Ch, 19ylegal never and nivex." The clip also included the username for a Telegram channel called @LeakersGov. That account posted a political statement on Friday, claiming Egypt remains under a dictatorship. The message argued that the government holds power through repression while the country fails to progress.

Egypt's interior ministry explained that the screen belonged to a local advertising firm working with an international client. The ministry stated that the international company's website suffered a cyberattack. This breach allowed unauthorized footage to be broadcast on the billboard. Officials noted that the attack happened simultaneously in several other countries. They did not name the specific company or list the other affected nations.

Local media reports indicate that similar electronic billboards in Iraq, Malaysia, and Brazil also displayed explicit content during the same period. The ministry said legal proceedings have already begun to address the incident.

The event occurred in a society where conservative moral codes, aligned with Islamic sharia law, hold significant influence. Many Egyptians expressed shock at the display, while others viewed the incident with humor. Local authorities have previously turned off electronic advertising boards after similar pornographic content appeared on the screens.

Despite court efforts to block pornographic websites, private online access remains common in the region. Data from Pornhub Insights shows that Egypt ranked in the top 20 countries for visits to pornography websites in 2025. The United States held the first position in that global ranking.