Artificial Intelligence law at Lebanon
Lebanon is actively developing frameworks to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing on integrating AI into various sectors, ensuring ethical standards, and fostering innovation. Here's an overview of Lebanon's AI initiatives:
🇱🇧 National AI Strategy (2020–2050)
The Ministry of Industry has outlined a comprehensive strategy aiming to modernize Lebanon's industrial sector through AI. Key objectives include:(Diplomacy)
Adapting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Encouraging research, development, and innovation in AI to modernize Lebanon’s industrial landscape.
Promoting Economic Growth: Strengthening the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP and creating employment opportunities.
Aligning with Sustainability Goals: Implementing Sustainable Development Goals related to industrial growth and development.
Enhancing Competitiveness and Security: Leveraging AI to improve production quality and efficiency.(Diplomacy)
The strategy also emphasizes transforming the Ministry of Industry into a ‘smart ministry’ by digitizing operations and establishing an AI-driven platform to enhance services. (Diplomacy)
🧭 AI Governance and Ethics Guidelines
In January 2025, Haissam Fadlallah from Lebanese University published guidelines aiming to establish a unified ethical and regulatory framework for AI in Lebanon. These guidelines promote "trustworthy AI" by proposing best practices to ensure responsible and secure use, protect user rights, uphold societal values, and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. (ResearchGate)
🌐 International Collaboration and Support
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) has been instrumental in assisting Lebanon to develop its AI strategy. ESCWA's involvement includes:(UNESCWA)
Expert Group Meetings: Facilitating discussions among national stakeholders to assess the national context of AI and collect information on needs and focus areas.
Technical Assistance: Providing support to Lebanon in building capacities and promoting dialogue on normative and cooperation frameworks related to AI. (UNESCWA)
⚖️ Legal and Regulatory Landscape
Lebanon's legal framework includes several laws relevant to AI:
Telecommunications Law 431/2002: Mandates confidentiality of information by inspectors and controllers in the sector.
Consumer Protection Law (Law No. 659 of 2005): Requires the keeping of all consumer-related information confidential.
Law No. 81/2018 on Electronic Transactions and Personal Data: Addresses electronic transactions and personal data protection, though implementation decrees are still pending. (menaobservatory.ai)
🧠 Educational and Research Initiatives
Lebanese universities and institutions are actively involved in AI research and education:
Strategic Foresight Seminars: Organized by ICESCO and the Lebanese National Commission, focusing on the foresight dimension of AI and its future impact on humanity.
AI Auditing Frameworks: Developed through collaborations like the Paragon Policy Fellowship, aiming to establish risk assessment and evaluation criteria for AI applications. (ICESCO, Paragon Policy Fellowship)
🔄 Ongoing Challenges and Future Directions
Despite these efforts, Lebanon faces challenges in finalizing and implementing AI-related laws and regulations. Discussions at forums like the Lebanese Internet Governance Forum in February 2025 highlighted the need for modern laws that balance digital security, freedom of expression, and human rights. Participants emphasized the importance of adopting frameworks that consider the technological sector, rather than focusing solely on traditional media laws. (IFEX)
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