Launch Event of “A Parents’ Guide to Encryption.”

Beirut, November 3^rd 2025 — Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Minister of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, the Internet Society Lebanon Chapter (ISOC-LB) organized the launch event of the Arabic version of “A Parents’ Guide to Encryption” at the Habtoor City Hotel.
The event brought together representatives from the Internal Security Forces (ISF), the General Directorate of General Security (GDGS), the education sector, school parents’ committees, civil society organizations, and the technical community.
H.E. Dr. Shehadi was represented by Me. Nadine Shawi, Senior Legal Counsel, while Major General Nader Abdallah represented the Director General of the ISF. From the Internet Society, attendees included Nermine El Saadany, Regional Vice President for the Middle East; Hana Sabbagh, Community Engagement Manager for the Middle East; and the ISOC Lebanon Chapter leadership team — Charbel Chbeir, Zakie Karam, Jacques Bakaev, and Nicolas Rouhana.
Developed by the Global Encryption Coalition, the guide introduces parents to the fundamentals of encryption and online privacy protection through interactive games, activities, and simplified learning tools. It aims to make encryption concepts accessible and engaging for families and is now available in both Arabic and English.

A short introductory video in Arabic was presented during the event
Participants emphasized the growing importance of digital literacy in Lebanon, highlighting the urgent need to bridge the knowledge gap between parents and younger generations. They called for integrating digital safety and encryption awareness into school curricula and for fostering greater collaboration among public institutions, civil society, and the private sector to build a safer and more responsible digital environment.
ISOC and ISOC-LB reaffirmed their commitment to supporting educational institutions and communities by offering free training programs, awareness sessions, and learning resources to empower parents, students, and teachers to use technology safely and responsibly.
Learn more: https://www.internetsociety.org/learning/
The meeting concluded with an agreement to establish a collaborative framework to reach schools and educational institutions across Lebanon, ensuring that digital literacy becomes a cornerstone of education and child protection in the digital age.