Lebanese Ministry of Information
Minister of Information, Attorney Dr. Paul Morcos, emphasized the necessity of expressing opinions on political matters freely, considering this as a cornerstone of democratic life. He added that disagreement must remain within the boundaries of respect, as those who possess sound arguments and logic have no need to insult others or infringe upon their rights, freedoms and dignity.
The Minister’s words came during the launch of the “Youth Connections” Program held at the Chill Lounge in Beirut Souks this morning. The Program is a partnership between DOT Lebanon and the British Council, aimed at promoting digital peacebuilding and empowering youth and equipping them with the skills, opportunities, and knowledge necessary to use digital spaces more responsibly and to strengthen their role in combating misinformation.
Morcos indicated that communities today are increasingly affected by the spread of hate speech that is characterized by abusive language which undermines people’s dignity, infringes on their freedoms, and targets their families, religions and religious practices and traditions. “Such rhetoric goes beyond the legitimate boundaries of freedom of opinion, expression, and the media, encroaching instead on the rights, freedoms, and dignity of others,” he said.
Morcos went on, “While this phenomenon is not unique to Lebanon and is evident around the world, its consequences are particularly dangerous in societies that have endured repeated conflicts. In Lebanon’s case, diversity and differing viewpoints, rather than serving as sources of strength and constructive dialogue, risk becoming drivers of division, crisis, and social instability, with potential security repercussions that can be nearly as damaging as war itself.”
Addressing this phenomenon, Morcos said the Information Ministry adopted a dual-track approach focused on combating both hate speech and disinformation, stressing that progress on these issues cannot be achieved through a single measure, but requires coordinated action across multiple fronts, with each effort contributing to meaningful results.
Referring to the draft media law, which is still under discussion, Morcos noted that it includes clear provisions to combat hate speech for the first time in Lebanese legislation. He noted that the bill has prompted comments and proposals from various stakeholders, some of which are well-founded while others conflict with competing demands. Morcos considered that it will ultimately be the Parliament’s responsibility to reconcile any differing positions and adopt the most balanced and effective version of the legislation.
Morcos also touched on the Information Ministry’s awareness campaigns which aimed at promoting more respectful public discourse on social media platforms and traditional media resources, adding that these initiatives focused on encouraging adherence to the principles of mutual respect, protection of human dignity, and respect for the rights and freedoms of others. He further indicated that the campaigns were carried out in partnership with UNESCO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with the goal of fostering more responsible and constructive public communication.
