Between official rhetoric promising digital transformation and AI governance, and the reality of crumbling infrastructure and the lack of effective data and privacy protection, the gap between ambitious promises and the absence of legislative implementation was laid bare at the Internet Governance Forum in Beirut.

Lebanon’s infrastructure lacks the basic foundations needed to protect digital rights or ensure reliable connectivity. How, then, can the country rush to draft AI legislation without enforcing fundamental laws that civil society has long fought for, such as the Personal Data Protection Law and the Right of Access to Information Law? Meanwhile, newly introduced government platforms continue to suffer security breaches, and the lack of digitalized public services forces citizens to rely on intermediaries to complete even the simplest administrative procedures.

These and other challenges were discussed at the annual Lebanon Internet Governance Forum (Lebanon IGF), held on October 6 and 7 under the theme “Digital Resilience, Trust, and Sustainable Innovation for Lebanon’s Recovery.” The event was hosted at the Lebanese University’s central administration headquarters in the National Museum district of Beirut.

The forum featured a series of sessions and three workshops attended by members of parliament, experts, academics, journalists, technology professionals, civil society representatives, and students. Discussions focused on digital access as a driver of economic recovery and inclusion, resilient infrastructure, data and AI governance, cybersecurity, and protecting the information space from hate speech and disinformation during crises. Working papers also examined the influence of social media on public opinion and the relationship between artificial intelligence and the right of access to information.

Civil Society and Internet Governance: Towards Genuine Partnership

During a session organized by SMEX under the auspices of the CADE coalition, lawyer Layal Saqr (SEEDS) emphasized the need to move beyond tokenistic civil society participation towards genuine partnership, through simplifying laws and enforcing legislation that safeguards freedom of expression and the right of access to information.

Aliaa Awada (NO2TA) highlighted the decisive role of feminist advocacy in securing legislative amendments, such as the repeal of Article 522. She warned that ambiguity in implementing regulations can render laws ineffective.

Abed Kataya, SMEX’s Media Program Manager, called for mandatory, institutionalized public consultations with civil society and relevant stakeholders before adopting any digital laws or policies, to ensure transparency and equitable participation.

General Security: No Digital Transformation Without Security and Trust

Brigadier General Jamal Qashmar, representing the Director General of General Security, linked digital recovery to security and trust, stressing that “there can be no digital transformation without security, and no sustainable digital security without resilience.” He added that protecting the nation now extends to its cyberspace, infrastructure, and data.

For some, however, this security-centered approach to digital transformation raises serious concerns about expanding the powers of security agencies in Lebanon’s digital sphere, entrenching surveillance, and violating privacy, particularly in the absence of robust legislative safeguards and independent oversight. Cybersecurity does not automatically translate into the protection of digital rights. Nor can trust be built without transparency, accountability, and safeguards against using security justifications as a pretext to restrict freedoms.

Beyond Connectivity: Education and the Labor Market Confront Digital Transformation

The first session, “Beyond Connectivity,” explored the requirements for inclusive digital transformation, emphasizing that it must go beyond superficial changes to include skills development and stronger partnerships between academia and the private sector to meet labor market needs.

Rula Abu Daher (Touch) outlined telecommunications companies’ shift towards becoming fully integrated digital telecom operators (Digital Telcos), using chatbots and artificial intelligence to improve performance and proactively serve subscribers.

Meanwhile, Marianne Bitar (Bridge Outsource Transform) examined structural barriers, including the high cost of equipment and declining training opportunities. She stressed the importance of implementing Universal Acceptance, which enables systems and applications to support different languages and domain names, ensuring equitable digital access.

Dr. Ursula El Hage (Saint Joseph University) called for moving beyond theoretical education by establishing joint practical laboratories between universities and the private sector to address real-world challenges.

Nada Hamza (UNESCO) emphasized the importance of media literacy and critical thinking in countering AI-generated disinformation, while taking into account the actual needs of local and rural communities.

Artificial Intelligence and the Attention Economy

During the “Digital Trust Under Pressure” session and the “Trust, Truth, and Influence” seminar, MP Najat Saliba warned of the risks posed by content of unknown origin and questionable platform funding. She described the relentless flow of disinformation as a “hungry monster” that undermines the public’s ability to distinguish fact from fiction.

Academic Dunia Harajli explained how digital platforms exploit the “attention economy,” using algorithms to isolate users within closed echo chambers that reinforce polarization.

Cybersecurity and Data Governance: Legislation Without Effective Protection

The “Cybersecurity and Data Governance” session featured heated discussions about legislative shortcomings. Lawyer Jean Akel argued that Law No. 81/2018 on Electronic Transactions and Personal Data has been rendered ineffective by weak enforcement mechanisms and broad exemptions benefiting the public sector.

Although Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Othman, representing the National Cybersecurity Team, presented national plans and proposals to establish a cybersecurity agency, pressing questions remained unanswered regarding digital sovereignty, protection against security breaches involving services such as Starlink, and the reasons behind repeated government data leaks that have gone unpunished.

Alexandre Fakhoury, for his part, stressed the need to integrate cybersecurity into public-sector strategic planning and allocate the necessary resources to data protection, rather than treating security as a secondary technical consideration.

Disinformation and Incitement During Crises

During a session organized by the Maharat Foundation, journalist Nazir Rida examined disinformation networks operating on X to fuel incitement during crises. Brigadier General Dr. Georges Sadaka, meanwhile, presented field research demonstrating how media coverage during wars can become a direct weapon of conflict and disinformation.

MP Georges Okais, for his part, stressed that the success of the new media law depends on activating the independent National Media Authority and providing training for the judiciary, rather than relying solely on legislative provisions.

The forum once again highlighted the persistent problems of inadequate accountability and legislative paralysis, raising a fundamental question: When will Lebanon’s digital recovery move beyond conference speeches to establish tangible rights and achieve meaningful improvements in citizens’ everyday lives?