Beirut, March 24, 2026 — Israel’s war on Lebanon continues to escalate, intensifying its targets on critical infrastructure like connecting routes and bridges, and digital aggressions continue reaching residents. Meanwhile, GCC countries remain heavily impacted by the US–Israeli war on Iran, with its effects increasingly visible on the digital front.
Below are the latest updates on the state of digital rights during the regional war.
Some GCC states attempt to build alternative routes for data
After the Iranian strike that hit Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, six competing projects funded by GCC states are racing to build “alternative routes” for subsea cables to avoid passing through the Hormuz Strait.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, bordered by Iran, the UAE, and Oman, is of major global strategic importance. Creating alternative subsea cable routes that bypass the strait would strengthen data security and connectivity for GCC countries, especially amid recent Iranian threats to target passing vessels and disrupt global trade.
“If the GCC countries decide to relocate their subsea cables, they need to ensure that the data being rerouted safeguards the personal data and privacy of the users while being transported,” says Madeleine Belesi, Senior Cybersecurity Analyst at SMEX.
An official warning against fraudulent “aid” website in Lebanon
The Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) have issued a warning about a fraudulent website circulating as a supposed registration tool for displaced people. The site, m2wa[.]com (refuge dot com), was flagged as suspicious by the ISF’s Information Branch.
Authorities also cautioned that sharing personal information with unofficial or unverified platforms could put individuals at serious risk, including hacking and data theft.
SMEX’s Media Program Manager, Abed Kataya, had also previously warned that communities affected by the crisis are particularly vulnerable to scams and fraud.
“What the authorities are doing by spreading awareness is a good first step, however, they should’ve taken precautions to better protect Lebanon’s residents,” says Kataya. “That should happen even if the country’s cybersecurity is fragile.”
Lebanese residents continue to face digital risks and telecom disrupt with no government response in sight
As Israel’s aggression on Lebanon persists, residents continue to face risks to their digital and physical safety. As previously documented by SMEX, residents continue to receive threats to evacuate their houses or workplaces every other day from unknown numbers claiming that Israel will soon act against it.
The Israeli occupation also dropped propaganda leaflets on March 13 sharing QR codes which redirect the scanner to a WhatsApp contact and a Facebook page affiliated to Israeli intelligence. Scanning these QR codes could expose information about your device including its type, network information, screen size, and much more.
These risks are exacerbated by the authorities’ lack of readiness in managing crises, particularly in the telecom and connectivity sectors.
Despite a huge strain on telecoms and internet connectivity in areas welcoming forcibly displaced people in large numbers, the Ministry of Telecommunications has not taken significant measures to alleviate this strain nor to accommodate displaced individuals, SMEX reports.
While touch, one of Lebanon’s two private telecom providers, has introduced a “solidarity bundle” offering discounted data, we call for extending grace periods to better support displaced individuals who may lack adequate access to resources.
Cyberattacks target two ministries and media in Lebanon
Earlier last week, a hacker group called the “Fatimids” briefly targeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information’s websites, according to local media.
According to l’Orient Today, the Ministry of Information’s website failed to load and displayed an error page. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ webpage was accessible only after posting an alert about a potential data breach. By Thursday morning, both sites appeared to be functioning normally.
The same hacker group also claimed to have hacked MTV Lebanon’s web page, a local TV channel and news outlet earlier the same week.
AI-generated footage and deepfakes of the war threaten information integrity
AI-generated content of the war is having a direct impact on residents in the countries affected by the current war. Recent events have pointed to a more widespread use of AI-generated images but also the falsification of claims that images are AI-generated, according to Tech Policy Press.
According to Mahsa Alimardani, an Associate Director at WITNESS, compromising footage of the war is being dismissed as AI and deepfakes continue to rise, effectively blurring the line between real, documented information and fake content.
At SMEX, we’ve invested significant efforts in countering the spread of AI-generated misinformation since September 2024 by sharing tips on how to discern AI-generated content from real content.
You can watch our quick guide here.
As always, if you suspect you are under any kind of digital threat, reach out to our Digital Safety Helpdesk through:
Email: helpdesk@smex.org
WhatsApp/Signal: +961 81 633 133
Stay safe!
