October 14, 2026
As Lebanon seeks to accelerate its transition towards digital services, the Minister of Displaced Persons and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Kamal Shehadeh, confirmed that his top priority is to establish an integrated digital government, in parallel with building legal and regulatory frameworks that ensure safe and effective use of technology.
Shehadeh’s statements came during a conference held in the capital, Beirut, to launch a recent study issued by the “DanchurchAid” organization – Lebanon, entitled “Digital Transformation and Human Rights in Lebanon: Progress, Governance, and Emerging Challenges,” in the presence of representatives from the European Union, along with delegations from civil society organizations, and human rights, academic, and professional bodies.
The Minister explained that his primary goal since assuming his duties has been to establish the regulatory and legal foundations leading to the establishment of a secure digital economy, and to develop public services in a way that facilitates citizens’ access to them and raises their standards. He also pointed to the “Nomu” initiative launched by the Ministry with the aim of empowering Lebanese youth with artificial intelligence and digital technology tools by organizing training workshops in various Lebanese regions, praising at the same time the support provided by the European Union to relevant projects.
For his part, Deputy Head of the Cooperation Department at the European Commission, Cyril Dewalin, stressed the European Union’s commitment to continue supporting governmental and civil initiatives aimed at promoting digital transformation while preserving the rights associated with it.
On the other hand, the study issued by the conference highlighted Lebanon’s urgent need to focus on six basic priorities, which are: strengthening leadership and institutional coordination, modernizing legal frameworks, developing interconnected digital services, expanding the scope of digital inclusion, enhancing cybersecurity and establishing strict controls for the use of artificial intelligence, as well as adopting clear mechanisms for measurement and accountability.
Participants in the event stressed that the success of the digital transformation process is not limited only to introducing modern technologies to official administrations, but is closely linked to protecting rights, improving the quality of services, and expanding access to them, in addition to enhancing levels of trust and accountability.
The conference concluded its work by emphasizing the importance of transforming the recommendations contained in the study into practical, implementable steps, through intensifying continuous cooperation between state institutions, civil society, and the academic and technological sectors.
