I had my postgraduate degree in Data Mining and Information Retrieval at the University of East Anglia.
I am trying to challenge the old saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none”. I have about 10 years experience in Software Development. In previous lives I used to work as an Information Security Consultant and Presales Manager. I also have been volunteering in Global Voices Online (GVO) since 2007, and currently I am local ambassador of the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) in Egypt. Words like Open Data, Government 2.0, Data Visualisation, Data Journalism and Social Startups are like music to my ears.
Latest posts by Tarek Amr
Egypt's Nationality Laws Are Sexist: Men Can Pass on Nationality to Their Wives, While Women Can't
While Egyptian men could pass on their nationality to their wives, Egyptian women don't have the same right. One Twitter user, Salma El-Daly, vows to fight this law.
‘Egypt Needs More than Investment, Egypt Needs Individualism’
For Egypt to prosper on the back of decades of cronyism and its recent years of turbulence, the country's citizens must think for themselves, writes Sara Labib.
When You Don't Want to Listen to Netanyahu, You Write a Computer Script to Do It for You
Tarek Amr analyzes the words that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used most often in his speech to America's Congress. Top word? "The". Second place? "Iran".
Egyptians Gleefully Remix ISIS ‘National Anthem’
Egyptians are poking fun of the ISIS "national anthem" by uploading videos to YouTube featuring dancers swaying to the song's words
Why Did Egyptians Tie and Behead a Dog as Onlookers Watched?
News of the public "slaughtering" of a dog in Cairo as onlookers watched has sent shock waves around the world, with many questioning how people have become this violent.
International Open Data Day Set for February 22
Bloggers, hackers and others interested in Open Data and Transparency will gather for the International Open Data Day on February 22. Find out how you can get involved.
Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef is Back On Air
Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef's satire show is back on air on MBC Masr, after it was taken off air by CBC last year.
Egypt: The Muppets Intelligence Agency
In Egypt, a Muppet-like character is being accused of sending coded messages to terrorists. Amr Tarek explains why this puppet is on trial.
Notes From the GVMeetup in Cairo
Hello Cairo! Our meetup took place on November 16 in "The Workshops" facility in Maadi. We spoke about Global Voices, technology and society.
Palestinian Assaf Wins Arab Idol Singing Contest
Palestinian Mohammed Assaf won the title of this year's Arab Idol, the Arabic version of American Idol. Because there are contestants from different Arab countries, the citizens of each country consider the win a national trophy. Assaf's win sent thousands to the streets celebrating, chanting and dancing.
Egypt: Why Open Source Software?
After introducing to Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) in the previous article, one might still wonder why corporates and governments need to adoption it or encourage its adoption. Tarek Amr elaborates in this second post of a two-part series in the argument for F/OSS
Free and Open Source Software
We received an email from Richard M. Stallman (RMS), after publishing the article about the Egyptian demonstration calling for the government to adopt Free Software. Tarek Amr digs deeper into open source software and arguments in its favour in this first post of a two-part series
Arab World: Al-Andalus: Fall or Reconquista?
While people in Spain celebrated “El día de la Toma de Granada”, those in the Arab world debated whether it was an Arab occupation of Iberian Peninsula or not.
Egypt: The People Demand Free and Open Source Software
A lot has been said about the liberating role technology has played in the Middle East uprising, yet there is more to be said about the mutual role the uprising is yet to play in liberating the technology in the region. Angered by an announcement that the Egyptian government agreed to spending $43.8 million to acquire licenses and software products from Microsoft, members of the Open Source community in Egypt are planning a silent protest outside the Cabinet on December 30.
Egypt: Morsi’s Presidential Team
Yasser Ali, the spokesperson of the Egyptian presidency announced Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's presidential team. Zeinobia introduces us to the team – so did Julia Lugovska. It consists of 4 assistants and 17 consultants.
MENA: Bridge Blog for Maghreb and Arab Gulf States
A Moroccan-American blogger Samia Errazzouki and a stateless blogger from Kuwait Mona Kareem have joined hands to start a new blog which tackles the stereotypes between the Maghreb (North Africa) and the Gulf. The aim is to start a conversation to bridge differences between them.
World: Nerd Olympics
When nerds follow the Olympic Games, a hashtag like #Nerdlympics is born. Find our favourite tweets in the hashtag here
Egypt: Egyptian Woman faces Sexual Harassment, in Washington DC
Nancy M is an Egyptian woman who moved from Cairo to Washington DC last month, thinking she has left sexual harassment behind her.”I was still a woman, walking the streets of a city by myself, always open to the possibility that there was a man out there who felt entitled...
Syria: Weapons and Combat Tutorials Online
Syrian rebels turn to a YouTube channel called 'Free Syrian Army Help' for training. The channel has 80 videos explaining tactics like hand-to-hand combat, how-to-make flame-throwers, and ambushing an enemy.
MENA: Welcoming Ramadan
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar has just begun. It is a time when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, try to get closer to God and celebrate their blessings. Around the world, Muslims have been trying to capture the spirit of the month with photographs, sharing them on different social media websites.
