Source: Al-Wafd Newspaper
Prof. Dr. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri
The Arab region is undergoing a complex digital transformation, where technological advancements intersect with political and security considerations in an unprecedentedly rapidly changing global landscape. Major shifts in data and information management have become inextricably linked to the concepts of national sovereignty and national security. Digital privacy, with its legal, ethical, and strategic dimensions, now represents a cornerstone of true independence in the digital age. Control over territory alone is no longer the sole criterion for sovereignty; rather, control over data has become a prerequisite for nations’ survival in the new balance of power.
Sovereign legislation and content
Although some Arab countries have begun drafting laws to protect personal data, most of these laws remain captive to narrow security perspectives, rather than being comprehensive systems for protecting privacy and ensuring digital transparency and accountability. At the same time, the near-total reliance on foreign platforms in the fields of communications, education, health, and financial transactions amounts to a voluntary surrender of the keys to daily life in the Arab world to companies that are not subject to local oversight. These data-managing companies determine the pace of the market, public opinion trends, and sometimes even political decisions, leaving the Arab world trapped between a stifling legislative gap and a worrying technological dependency.
The Arab user is at the heart of the equation
This problem is exacerbated by the limited digital literacy in Arab societies. A lack of awareness of privacy rights makes the Arab user the weakest link in the system, an easy target for hacking, and sometimes an unwitting accomplice in the violation of their own privacy through the applications and websites they use. With the absence of systematic digital education in schools and universities, this cultural deficit persists, widening the gap between the individual and the technology that governs their daily life.
Infrastructure under foreign control
At the infrastructure level, information supply lines, from submarine cables to data centers and cloud platforms, represent the true backbone of Arab digital security, but they are largely managed from outside the region. Submarine cables running through the Red Sea and the Gulf constitute the internet lifeline for the Arab world, yet their actual management lies in the hands of international alliances that are not subject to any real Arab control. Similarly, most cloud data centers in the region are operated by American and European companies, making regional cybersecurity dependent on external will at a time when cyberattacks are increasing and information warfare is intensifying.
An Arab digital independence project based on technology and knowledge
This reality makes Arab digital supply chains subject to global power dynamics, placing the region in a vulnerable position where data can be disrupted or monitored, thus threatening digital sovereignty at its core. Faced with this situation, the urgent need for a comprehensive Arab strategy that transcends mere formalities and establishes a fully integrated digital independence project becomes clear. This strategy should begin with building a modern legislative framework that emulates global best practices, such as the European Federation’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and establishing independent privacy protection bodies with real powers, committed to standards of transparency and institutional accountability.
On the technical front, this requires joint investments in building an Arab cloud for managing vital data, developing local capabilities to manage data centers and submarine cables, and transitioning to productive software projects. Furthermore, a strategic openness to partnerships with emerging technological powers like China and India can offer a way out of Western dominance in the digital space.
On a social level, introducing “digital security” materials and specializations into educational curricula, and launching specialized awareness campaigns about privacy rights, form the basis for any real digital renaissance, because security begins with awareness.
Arab sovereignty in the data age
Digital privacy in the Arab world has become an existential issue. The global economy is moving towards a model that treats data as a strategic commodity. Therefore, the battle for privacy is essentially a battle for sovereignty, a battle for awareness, and a battle for survival in the new international order.
The current moment may be a rare opportunity for the Arab world to redefine its position on the global digital map, break free from the closed technological system dominated by major powers, and forge an Arab project based on knowledge, digital sovereignty, and shared interests. Building the Arab future begins with claiming the right to privacy, which is the foundation for building independent national decision-making in a world governed by algorithms and guided by major interests.
