Gamal Mubarak, son of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, held an online interview with 12,000 of Egypt's Internet users, says the Los Angeles Times. Mubarak's dialogue is the first time in the Middle East that a politician and future presidential candidate has used the Internet to connect with the public, according to China View.

Mubarak invited users to send questions and concerns via Facebook or his Sharek ("Participate") website (www.sharek.eg). Questions and concerns focused on the country's high rate of inflation, difficult living conditions, corruption, and the policies of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). The most popular topic was the question of who will succeed the current president.

The junior Mubarak, who answered live on Sharek, didn't respond to inquiries regarding his candidacy for head of state after his 81-year old father leaves office. The deadline given to place questions before the actual discussion has given rise to doubts that some "critical" questions might have been filtered, says Middle East Online.

Response to Mubarak's online dialogue has been varied, continues China View. A young Egyptian said, "It is a good idea to approach the youth, get to know their viewpoints and exchange opinions with them so that if he becomes president one day he would know what the youth and the new generation are thinking."

Saad Hagras, editor in chief of Al-Alam Al-Youm ("The World Today") Newspaper stated, "The idea that he engages with the youth and with people in general is good. Holding dialogue with citizens, listening public opinion and feeling the pulse of Egyptian street is a good thing, provided that it has not been arranged beforehand."

The Internet dialogue appears to be part of the NDP's strategy to use new media to reach out to Egypt's people before the coming 2011 presidential election, says Middle East Online. Mubarak seems to be treading the same road as President Obama, who used Facebook and other social media in his 2008 campaign.

The Internet, however, has been a hostile environment for the NDP. Anti-government bloggers and Facebook activists have dominated the Egyptian blogosphere since it began to flourish in 2005. The opposition Facebook group "6th of April Youth Movement" boasts 74,000 members and there are more than 160,000 blogs, most of which are hostile to the government, according to a 2008 official report.

Mubarak's use of the Internet is ironic, says the LA Times, given that his father has arrested many opposition bloggers and Facebook activists. Writing in opposition for the Al-Wafd daily, Mohammed Amin noted that the majority of Egyptians "do not use the Internet or know about Facebook," says Middle East Online. Amin makes a valid argument given that Internet penetration in Egypt is around 12%, much of which is for entertainment.