AI ‘SpongeBob’ parody of problems in Egypt draws scrutiny of authorities
AI 'SpongeBob' parody of problems in Egypt draws scrutiny of authorities. Image source, EPA-EFEImage caption, Posts complained about issues like the cost of living and surveillanceByYolande KnellMiddle East correspondentPublished8 hours agoAn AI-generated version of the hit US cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants has recently become the unlikely star of a controversial online trend by Egyptians criticising living conditions, amid strict rules about political dissent.
What happened
The mounting pressure means that SpongeBob could soon be setting aside his new pharaonic costume and giving up the pyramids and his Egyptian home. A take on the hit US TV series has become an unlikely tool for Egyptians to complain about life amid strict surveillance. A wave of satirical postings began last month with a Facebook group dedicated to "Complaints of the Residents of al-Hamour Bottom" – the Arabic name used for SpongeBob's underwater home, Bikini Bottom.
Soon images were showing Egypt's President, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, as the money-grabbing Mr Krabs, a seabed overcrowded by tuk-tuks (automated rickshaws), and schoolgirl fish being sexually harassed by sleazy, male fish. The manipulated images of the SpongeBob programme, originally produced by Nickelodeon, were created by users of the site. One astute cartoon depicted ministry of interior staff underwater, warning: "Be careful", before the group was suspended, amid reports of official scrutiny. Egypt's military ousted the Brotherhood-backed President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, following mass protests against his one-year rule.
The wider picture
Many Egyptian celebrities, social media influencers and brands adopted the theme, sharing AI-generated memes of al-Hamour Bottom. "The laughter surrounding Bikini Bottom is not necessarily a sign of happiness," the Egyptian radio presenter Rabab Kamal told her thousands of Facebook followers. "Home to more than 110m people, Egypt is the most populated Arab country. Ordinary Egyptians still struggle with high inflation from previous currency devaluations affecting their standard of living. Regional instability has hit Suez Canal revenues, tourism and remittances from Egyptians working in the Gulf.
At the same time, there is increased intolerance for public dissent in Egypt since the military, led by Sisi, returned to power. The surreal humour of SpongeBob and his aquatic friends – particularly popular with Millennials and Generation Z – became an unlikely way to work around this. "The Egyptian government has long been cracking down on online expression.
What has been reported
Thousands of people in Egypt languish for years in pretrial detention simply for expressing views online that are not sanctioned by the state," says Mahmoud Shalaby, a regional researcher at Amnesty International. "Although Sisi insists he is committed to freedom of expression and that Egyptians are free to air any views, few are buying it. Late last month, the president appeared to obliquely reference the SpongeBob craze when he referred to "social media chaos" and how ongoing public discussions failed to grasp the magnitude of national challenges.
Egyptian state security encourages reporting on suspicious or anti-government behaviour. Related topicsEgyptMore on this storyEgypt tightens control over internet usePublished18 August 2018 Other posts prompted comments complaining about allegedly corrupt ministers, skyrocketing rent, and the poor state of health and education. Within a couple of weeks, the Facebook group had picked up 1. A teenage girl who claimed she was the group's administrator put a video clip online saying that she and her fellow creators should not be held responsible for political posts that some members had posted in spin-off groups.
What happens next
Pro-government media and TV presenters accused the outlawed Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, of exploiting the viral phenomenon. "The trend of al-Hamour Bottom belongs to the Brotherhood," insisted well-known talk show host Tamer Abdel Monaim in a programme dedicated to the topic. "While many posts containing the most sensitive political comments have now been removed, some of the most popular content has continued to circulate widely on social media. "People are laughing because circumstances have become so absurd that laughter feels like the only possible response.
Since the 2011 Arab Spring, it has been through years of social and economic upheaval. Fuel costs have risen and this summer, the government raised some electricity tariffs by 12%. The government fears instability and challenges to its rule.