Shahadeh: 5 Priorities to Enhance Cyber Readiness in Lebanon

The sixth regional conference of the Arab Internet and Telecommunications Union (ARISPA), titled "Cybersecurity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," was held in cooperation with the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Telecommunications and Information at the League of Arab States, and organized by the Professional Computing Association in Lebanon (PCA). The event was sponsored by President Joseph Aoun, represented by Minister of Displaced Persons and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shahadeh.

Attending were MP Fadi Alameh representing the Speaker of Parliament; Minister of State for Administrative Development Dr. Fadi Makki representing Prime Minister Nawaf Salam; Minister of Youth and Sports Nora Berkdarian; Arab League Commissioner Khalid Wali; Chinese Ambassador Chen Chuandong; Rapporteur of the Parliamentary IT Committee MP Elias Hankash; MP Adib Abdel Massih; ARISPA President Firas Bakour; and various dignitaries.

Bakour

After the Lebanese national anthem, Bakour noted that "the holding of the conference under the patronage of the President reflects the growing importance of cybersecurity and AI issues in building the future of nations and enhancing their security and stability." He said: "The world is passing through a pivotal phase of technological development, where artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for improving productivity and developing services, but has become a driving force reshaping economies and societies, and one of the most prominent elements of competitiveness and economic and technological influence."

He indicated that "this development, despite the great opportunities it provides, imposes unprecedented challenges and risks, as the same technologies that help detect cyberattacks and develop countermeasures can be used to execute more complex, faster, and widespread attacks." He stressed that "cybersecurity is no longer merely a technical issue limited to protecting networks and information, but has become an essential part of national security, economic stability, and digital sovereignty, especially with the spread of deepfakes, digital fraud, and AI-supported attacks."

He affirmed "the necessity of moving from addressing risks after they occur to adopting security from the design and development stage of systems," calling for "investment in Arab competencies and scientific research, supporting emerging and medium-sized tech companies, and developing local and regional solutions instead of relying solely on importing ready-made technology." He emphasized "the importance of Arab cooperation in exchanging experiences and information, developing common standards, enhancing human and technological capabilities, and protecting critical infrastructure," considering that "facing current challenges requires actual partnership between governments, the private sector, universities, and scientific research centers."

He concluded by affirming that "the future of the digital economy will not belong only to countries possessing the most advanced technology, but also to those capable of making it safer and more reliable," calling for "transforming the conference outcomes into practical initiatives that enhance Arab cooperation and support building a safe and sustainable digital future."

Larry Shi

For his part, Larry Shi affirmed that "digital transformation and artificial intelligence open wide horizons for public services, education, health, and business sectors," stressing "the importance of building secure and resilient digital infrastructure as a foundation for economic recovery and service development in Lebanon."

He pointed out that "artificial intelligence constitutes both a defensive tool and a threat simultaneously, as it enables the development of more effective systems for detecting and responding to cyberattacks, while attackers exploit it to accelerate their attacks and increase their complexity." He emphasized "the necessity of integrating cybersecurity and privacy protection into the design and development stages of technology, rather than treating them as add-on measures later."

He said: "Protecting the digital ecosystem requires a comprehensive approach encompassing devices, networks, cloud computing, and AI models," affirming that "trust in digital services must be based on transparency, international standards, and independent verification." He stressed "the importance of investing in human capital and training Lebanese youth," considering that "specialized talents represent the first line of defense against cyber threats."

He concluded by affirming that "Huawei is committed to long-term partnership with Lebanon, supporting local competencies, and respecting applicable regulations," expressing "the company's readiness to cooperate with the government, private sector, universities, and partners to build a prosperous and safe digital future for Lebanon."

Wali

From his side, Wali affirmed that "artificial intelligence is no longer a promising technology belonging to the future, but has become one of the most important drivers of economic, social, and developmental transformation, and a factor influencing states' ability to compete and grow." He indicated that "this transformation is accompanied by a number of challenges related to data protection, privacy, security, ethics, and trust, as well as the future of work, the digital divide, and societies' ability to keep pace with the speed of technological development."

He stressed "the necessity of preparing for this transformation and actively participating in directing it to serve the interests of peoples and development goals," confirming that "building a smart society is not limited to owning the latest technologies, but requires employing them responsibly and fairly, enhancing education, health, innovation, and productivity, providing new opportunities for youth, and contributing to the development of public services."

He noted that "the Arab world possesses young human energies, economic and investment potential, and a vast market that qualifies it to be an active partner in this field," stressing "the necessity of converting these potentials into a joint Arab capacity to produce knowledge, develop solutions, and build partnerships."

He also presented "the efforts of the League of Arab States in this field, including the Arab Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and the Arab Charter for its Ethics, the establishment of the Standing Arab Committee for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, alongside enhancing cooperation with specialized Arab organizations and unions."

He concluded by affirming 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 limiting the digital divide and supporting economic and social development."

Hankash

As for Hankash, he stressed that "cybersecurity is no longer just a technical topic, but has become a national and homeland security issue affecting everyone, in light of the transformations witnessed in the nature of wars, concepts of sovereignty, and protection of homelands." He clarified that "borders are no longer only geographical, but have also become digital, imposing the protection of infrastructure and digital systems from increasing threats and attacks." He emphasized that "achieving this requires concerted efforts and full coordination between state institutions and the private sector."

He indicated that "artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword, as it helps detect attacks, preempt them, and enhance defense means, but conversely allows attackers to develop more complex methods capable of bypassing protection systems, which increases the importance of technical and legislative preparedness to face risks." He noted that "legislation still lags behind keeping pace with technological development at the required speed," considering that "providing an incubating environment for innovation and data protection requires updating laws, particularly those related to cybersecurity and protecting innovations developed by Lebanese youth."

He concluded by stressing "Lebanon's need to establish a clear national strategy for cybersecurity, keeping pace with rapid developments through modern legislation, and enhancing cooperation and capability integration between the public and private sectors, ensuring the protection of institutions and digital infrastructure and supporting technological innovation."

Shahadeh

For his part, Shahadeh affirmed that "artificial intelligence redraws the features of cybersecurity, providing opportunities to enhance institutional protection, preempt threats, and detect attacks, but grants malicious actors more advanced tools to execute complex and fast attacks in return."

He stressed "the necessity of securing AI systems themselves, enhancing human oversight and accountability, and preparing for the challenges posed by quantum computing, especially regarding the protection of digital communications, financial transactions, and sensitive government information." He indicated that "cybersecurity has become a fundamental pillar of national security and digital sovereignty, given that any serious breach may reflect on vital services, institutional continuity, and citizens' trust in the state." He affirmed "the importance of cooperation between the public sector, private sector, universities, and international partners to develop national capabilities and enhance readiness in the face of growing threats."

He noted that "Lebanon possesses specialized human energies in technology and cybersecurity, which can be utilized to build an advanced national system capable of protecting institutions and data and keeping pace with technological transformations." He revealed that "work is underway to finalize a draft law for cybersecurity, which would establish the competent authority and grant it the necessary powers to lead this file at the national level, providing a clear institutional framework for coordination and response to cyber risks."

He also identified "five priorities to enhance cyber readiness, including adopting secure digital transformation from the design stage, enhancing national cyber resilience, developing specialized competencies, establishing governance and accountability, and expanding regional cooperation and exchange of information and experiences."

He concluded by affirming that "the challenge lies not in choosing between innovation and security, but in making security, responsibility, and trust basic conditions for the continuation and prosperity of innovation, ensuring the benefits of AI potential while limiting its risks and protecting national interests."

Sessions

The conference included four sessions, participated in by a elite group of experts and specialists, centered around:

1- The Coming Digital Era: AI Governance and Cybersecurity.

2- Protecting Critical Arab Infrastructure in the Age of AI.

3- An Overview of Cybersecurity in the Age of AI and Advanced Technologies.

4- Towards a Safe and Reliable Arab AI Ecosystem.