Beirut, November 3, 2025 \u2014 SMEX, the digital rights organization, hosted Bread&Net in Lebanon\u2019s capital, Beirut \u2014 the region\u2019s leading event on digital rights.
Mohamad Najem, Executive Director of SMEX, said: <\/p>\n\n Bread&Net succeeded in bringing together hundreds of technology experts, policymakers, parliamentarians, legal professionals, social entrepreneurs, journalists, human rights defenders, academics, researchers, and media practitioners to discuss pressing digital rights issues across West Asia and North Africa. <\/p>\n\n Experts and participants tackled a range of topics including: Rina Wahbi, Campaigns Officer for Lebanon at Amnesty International, noted in a panel on freedom of expression that: <\/p>\n\n Lucy Domanyan, Executive Director of Digital Action and a participant in the forum, stated: What Is Bread&Net?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n About SMEX<\/strong> For Media Inquiries: Press Release Artificial Intelligence, Tech Company Accountability, and Governance Beirut, November 3, 2025 \u2014 SMEX, the digital rights organization, hosted Bread&Net in Lebanon\u2019s capital, Beirut \u2014 the region\u2019s leading event on digital rights.The gathering brought together more than 550 participants from West Asia and North Africa for over 80 sessions exploring the intersection of technology and human rights, with a central focus on privacy and freedom of expression. Mohamad Najem, Executive Director of SMEX, said:\u201cTechnology in our region is often associated with progress and opportunity, but that\u2019s only part of the picture. Bread&Net offers a space to rethink what\u2019s possible and to explore ways of shaping a more human-centered future.\u201dReflecting on the event\u2019s inspiring momentum, Najem added:\u201cThis gathering aims to exchange knowledge, research, and resources that strengthen critical thinking about technology\u2019s role, while expanding civil society movements for safe, fair, and inclusive digital environments.\u201d Bread&Net succeeded in bringing together hundreds of technology experts, policymakers, parliamentarians, legal professionals, social entrepreneurs, journalists, human rights defenders, academics, researchers, and media practitioners to discuss pressing digital rights issues across West Asia and North Africa. Experts and participants tackled a range of topics including:the unrestrained use of technology and AI in warfare and surveillance,the lack of accountability of major tech corporations for war crimes in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, and Sudan,internet shutdowns and restrictions on access,the deliberate targeting of telecommunications infrastructure, andthe exploitation of data-driven technologies in communities vulnerable to conflict and surveillance. Rina Wahbi, Campaigns Officer for Lebanon at Amnesty International, noted in a panel on freedom of expression that:\u201cIn 2023, Amnesty documented around ten cases of individuals prosecuted or interrogated based on defamation or insult complaints, following peaceful criticism or journalistic work.\u201dShe added:\u201cAuthorities have failed to follow standard procedures that safeguard due process rights, and in some cases, have resorted to intimidation tactics.\u201d Lucy Domanyan, Executive Director of Digital Action and a participant in the forum, stated:\u201cEvery participant at Bread&Net now possesses what it takes to drive change \u2014 knowledge, capacity for action, and a shared passion for digital rights.\u201d What Is Bread&Net?Organized annually by SMEX, Bread&Net is the most prominent event addressing digital rights and freedoms across West Asia and North Africa.The forum offers digital age human rights defenders a trusted and diverse network to exchange knowledge, collaborate, and advocate for human rights protection and respect.Its mission is to build and strengthen the digital rights movement in the region by equipping advocates with the tools and support needed to continue their struggle for freedom, social justice, accountability, and security for all. About SMEXSMEX is a nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights and freedoms in digital spaces across West Asia and North Africa.It empowers individuals to safely access and engage online \u2014 on the internet, mobile networks, and digital platforms \u2014 free from censorship, surveillance, or retaliation.The organization monitors digital rights violations through reporting, campaigning, research, training, and advocacy focused on internet policy and digital freedoms.Through its Digital Safety Helpdesk, SMEX offers free, rapid technical assistance to individuals and organizations facing digital threats or attacks. For Media Inquiries:Email: media@smex.orgPhone: Abd Qattaya \u2014 03044373<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":15396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[367],"tags":[572,546,556,552,548,347,571],"class_list":["post-15400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wassel-book","tag-_","tag-censorship","tag-digital_rights","tag-digital_security","tag-freedom_of_opinion_and_expression","tag-lebanon-en","tag-571"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04.jpg",2048,900,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04.jpg",2048,900,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04.jpg",2048,900,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04-300x132.jpg",300,132,true],"large":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04-1024x450.jpg",1024,450,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04-1536x675.jpg",1536,675,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-04.jpg",2048,900,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"\u0635\u0650\u0644\u0629 \u0648\u064e\u0635\u0644","author_link":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/author\/silat-wassel\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Wassel Book<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Press Release Artificial Intelligence, Tech Company Accountability, and Governance Beirut, November 3, 2025 \u2014 SMEX, the digital rights organization, hosted Bread&Net in Lebanon\u2019s capital, Beirut \u2014 the region\u2019s leading event on digital rights.The gathering brought together more than 550 participants from West Asia and North Africa for over 80 sessions exploring the intersection of technology…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15400"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15443,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400\/revisions\/15443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/silatwassel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/196-1024x575.jpg\")
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