Lebanese Minister: Cybersecurity Has Become a Pillar of National Security and Digital Sovereignty

Shuhada stated on Wednesday that cybersecurity has become “a fundamental pillar of national security and digital sovereignty,” emphasizing that any dangerous breach could impact vital services, institutional continuity, and citizens’ trust in the state. This came during a speech delivered by Minister Shuhada at the opening of the sixth regional conference of the Arab Internet and Communications Union in Beirut, organized by the Lebanese Association of Professional Informatics in cooperation with the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of the Arab League, under the theme “Cybersecurity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Shuhada affirmed that artificial intelligence is reshaping the contours of cybersecurity, noting that it offers opportunities to enhance institutional protection, anticipate threats, and detect attacks. However, it simultaneously provides malicious actors with more advanced tools to execute complex and rapid attacks. He stressed the necessity of securing AI systems themselves, strengthening human oversight and accountability, and preparing for challenges posed by quantum computing, particularly regarding the protection of digital communications, financial transactions, and sensitive government information.

He highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors, universities, and international partners to develop national capacities and enhance readiness against growing threats, noting that work is underway in Lebanon to finalize a draft cybersecurity law. Shuhada outlined five priorities to strengthen cyber readiness: adopting secure digital transformation from the design stage; enhancing national cyber resilience; developing specialized competencies; consolidating governance and accountability; and expanding regional cooperation and the exchange of information and expertise.

For his part, Dr. Khaled Wali, Minister-Counselor at the Arab League, stated that artificial intelligence “has become one of the most important drivers of economic, social, and developmental transformation, and a key factor influencing countries’ competitiveness and growth.” He pointed to several challenges accompanying this transformation, related to data protection, privacy, security, ethics, and trust. He called for preparedness for this transformation and active participation in steering it to serve the interests of peoples and development goals, emphasizing that “building a smart society is not limited to possessing the latest technologies, but requires their responsible and equitable use to enhance education, health, innovation, and productivity, while providing new opportunities for youth and contributing to the development of public services.”

He noted that the Arab world possesses young human resources, economic and investment potential, and a large market, qualifying it to be an active partner in this field, and called for transforming these potentials into “a shared Arab capacity to produce knowledge, develop solutions, and build partnerships.” Wali addressed the Arab League’s efforts in this area, including the Arab AI Strategy, the Arab Charter on AI Ethics, the establishment of the Permanent Arab Committee on AI and Emerging Technologies, alongside enhancing cooperation with specialized Arab organizations and unions.

He considered that the success of Arab countries in transitioning to the digital economy requires “developing infrastructure, expanding digital services, enhancing information and network security, and enacting legislation that protects personal data and ensures trust in technology, thereby narrowing the digital divide and supporting economic and social development.”

For his part, Firas Bakour, President of the Arab Internet and Communications Federation, said that “the world is going through a pivotal stage of technological development in which artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for improving productivity and developing services, but has become a driving force for reshaping economies and societies, and one of the most prominent elements of economic and technological competitiveness and influence.” He pointed out that this development, despite the significant opportunities it offers, poses unprecedented challenges and risks, as “the same technologies that help detect cyberattacks and develop countermeasures can be used to carry out more complex, faster, and widespread attacks.” He emphasized that cybersecurity is no longer a technical issue limited to protecting networks and information, but has become “an essential component of national security, economic stability, and digital sovereignty, especially with the proliferation of deepfakes, digital fraud, and AI-driven attacks.” Bakour called for investment in Arab talent and scientific research, support for emerging and medium-sized technology companies, and the development of local and regional solutions, rather than relying solely on importing ready-made technology. He stressed the importance of Arab cooperation in sharing expertise and information, developing common standards, enhancing human and technological capacities, and protecting critical infrastructure. He concluded by affirming that “the future of the digital economy will not belong only to countries that possess the most advanced technology, but also to those capable of making it more secure and reliable.” It is worth noting that the conference featured four sessions under the titles: “The Coming Digital Era: AI Governance and Cybersecurity,” “Protecting Critical Arab Infrastructure in the Age of AI,” “An Overview of Cybersecurity in the Age of AI and Advanced Technologies,” and “Toward a Secure and Reliable Arab AI System.” (End) A.Y.B. / M.A.A.