Beirut: Information Minister Dr. Paul Morcos on Wednesday welcomed the adoption of Lebanon's new media law, describing it as a significant step toward modernizing media legislation amid rapid developments in digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and the broader media sector.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Morcos expressed that the law is "more than 80% positive," while ongoing efforts aim to refine the remaining provisions. He mentioned that UNESCO, the European Union, the United States, Reporters Without Borders, and several local media and rights organizations had praised its adoption, noting that this could enhance Lebanon's position on press freedom indicators.
Morcos emphasized that the new law aims to bolster the freedom and independence of media institutions and shield them from political and security interference. He also pointed out the inclusion of financial transparency provisions, which empower the National Media Authority to request audits of media outlets' accounts through sworn experts.
Acknowledging concerns from media unions and institutions, Morcos stated his responsibility to relay these issues to Parliament. He also reiterated his proposal to reorganize public media institutions, following the omission of the relevant chapter from the law. This proposal had intended to consolidate T©l© Liban, Radio Lebanon, and the National News Agency under a single media platform while preserving their archives and employees' rights.
Addressing Article 104, Morcos noted that two paragraphs added during the final stages of parliamentary committee discussions allow for imprisonment, fines, or both for intentionally spreading misinformation and harmful false news. He mentioned his personal objection to this provision and his intention to pursue its amendment.
Morcos underscored his opposition to imprisoning journalists for publication, opinion, or expression cases, highlighting that Article 114 prohibits pretrial detention for offenses committed via media or electronic platforms, irrespective of the offender's profession or status. He indicated that proposed amendments would be submitted collaboratively by parliamentary blocs.
He also clarified that the abolition of the Publications Court does not signify a return to imprisonment as the primary penalty for journalists, emphasizing that the law's overall direction is toward substituting custodial penalties with fines.
Furthermore, Morcos noted that the legislation defines, for the first time, the qualifications for a media professional and establishes legal definitions for media outlets, institutions, and content. It introduces a regulatory framework for websites, mandating, among other requirements, a clear editorial policy, a responsible director, and qualified editorial staff.
He asserted that these standards are not meant to constrain media freedom but to ensure that websites maintain a clear identity, professional structure, and accountable management.