Feature image via IMEIInfo.com: An example of an IMEI number. The Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications recently announced that residents must register the International Mobile Equipment Identity number (IMEI) associated with their phone numbers on a new website. After people register their IMEI number, the ministry then sends them a link, which[...]
The Lebanese Ministry of Finance insignia, National News Agency, December 2013. This week, Cisco’s Talos Intelligence Group revealed that researchers discovered a new spyware campaign, dubbed “DNSpionage,” which targeted individuals and government websites in the UAE and Lebanon. Additionally, the attackers also targeted Lebanese private companies, such as Middle Eastern[...]
On November 20 and 21, around 200 people from over 20 countries gathered together in Beirut for 35 panels, talks, and workshops at Bread&Net, the region’s digital rights unconference. Hosted by SMEX and organized collaboratively with supporters and partners, Bread&Net created an offline space for discussion about technology and society, in[...]
Feature image via SMEX: Who controls what we see online? Who controls what we see online? SMEX screened the documentary “The Cleaners” and hosted a discussion yesterday, Sunday 18 November, before the start of regional unconference Bread&Net. “The Cleaners” sheds light on the hidden world of content moderators – thousands of[...]
Though Coursera did not respond to SMEX’s request for comment, the restriction of both platforms in Syria is likely linked to the reimposition of the Iran sanctions. Previously, Coursera totally restricted access to its content in Syria in 2014, but quickly reinstated access to the majority of the courses, limiting[...]
Feature image via the cleaners: Who is controlling what we see… and what we think? The Web that was once created to be public, free, and open is not the same anymore. Almost everything we do online these days is controlled by private companies; whether we are sending an email (through[...]
Feature image via Flickr, October 2013: An iPhone with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications. On Wednesday, the Syrian Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced that it was considering blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and other Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to increase revenues in the telecommunications industry, according to[...]
Feature image via the Daily Star, August 2018: An “Ugly” New Data Protection Law in Lebanon. The English translation of Chapter 5 of the E-Transactions Law concerning the processing of personal data can be found at the end of the article. An “Ugly” New Data Protection Law in Lebanon The[...]
Feature image via AdenNet:AdenNet says that it will provide larger, faster and cheaper internet. But what about digital rights and freedom? Yemen’s internet has become increasingly unstable due to the war and the country’s fragmentation. Indeed, the country has witnessed frequent internet shutdowns and interruptions and the warring parties have[...]
Feature image via imlebanon.org: The Ministry of Telecommunications. Since 2012, Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications has been trying, despite changes in leadership, to combat the smuggling of smartphones. The latest decision was announced on August 31 by caretaker minister Jamal al-Jarrah. A few points to gather from the directive: Citizens are[...]