The indicator "7.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 3 in Lebanon for the year 2024. This corresponds to "Rarely but there have been a few occasions throughout the year when the government shut down domestic access to Internet."

Art. 95 of the Law on Electronic Transactions and Personal Data requires that, unless falling under the exemptions listed in Art. 94, any person or entity intending to collect and process personal data must notify the Ministry of Economy and Trade through a permit issued upon receipt. The exemptions apply to cases where the data subjects are members or affiliates of institutions, commercial companies, trade unions, associations, or self-employed professionals, provided the processing is limited to what is necessary for the lawful exercise of their activities; similar provisions apply to data concerning clients or customers of these entities. Processing is also permitted where the data subject has given prior consent, unless restricted by law. Art. 97 sets out licensing requirements for processing personal data in sensitive areas, including matters of national security, which require a joint decision by the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of the Interior and Municipalities; criminal offences and judicial proceedings, which fall under the authority of the Minister of Justice; and data relating to health, genetic identity, or sexual life, which must be authorised by the Minister of Public Health.

It is reported that there is a lack of transparency regarding the legal framework applicable to online news websites in Lebanon. The Press Law, which is specifically designed to regulate print media, does not readily extend to digital platforms. Likewise, the Audiovisual Media Law governs broadcasting and is not intended to apply to online media. Yet, there are reports that the National Council for Audiovisual Media has invited online news websites and blogs to register with the Council.

According to Art. 2 of Law No. 1 of 1955, the entry, exchange, or trade of any Israeli goods, commodities, or products into Lebanon is prohibited. Goods and commodities manufactured in Israel, or those incorporating any component of Israeli origin, are deemed to be Israeli goods, whether imported directly or indirectly from Israel. Similarly, goods and products reshipped from Israel, or manufactured outside Israel for export on behalf of Israel, are also considered Israeli goods.

According to Art. 252 of Decree No. 126 of 1959, the import of wireless transmission devices, or devices capable of both transmitting and receiving signals, along with their accessories, is prohibited unless specifically authorised for installation and use.
Pursuant to the "Statement of the Procedure for Licensing the Import of Communications Devices and Equipment, including the Approval of the Customs Declaration", the Minister of Communications may, by decree, issue annual licences for the importation and sale all communications devices and equipment intended for connection to communications networks or for public use. Such import licences are granted, in accordance with applicable legal procedures, to entities duly authorised to provide communications services or to companies and institutions engaged in the trade of communications equipment.

It is reported that Lebanon’s customs administration faces severe structural and operational deficiencies, with staffing critically inadequate, organisational models outdated and core information technology systems nearing collapse. The Lebanese Customs Administration operates under the Customs Law currently in force (1984, amended in 2001), which provides for modern features such as risk management, paperless declarations, pre-arrival information, summary declarations upon arrival, and appeals. However, these provisions remain unimplemented. It is further reported that the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) is almost inoperative, as the Customs IT Centre possesses only a single obsolete server and lacks qualified personnel to maintain or develop system functionalities. In addition, customs personnel work on a significantly reduced schedule because budgetary constraints make full-time employment financially unfeasible.

According to Art. 1 of Law No. 1 of 1955, it is prohibited for any natural or legal person to enter into an agreement, either directly or through an intermediary, with entities or individuals residing in Israel, holding Israeli nationality, or acting on behalf of or for the benefit of Israel, when such agreements concern commercial transactions, financial operations, or any other dealings of any kind. This prohibition applies horizontally across all sectors of the economy, including the export of goods or services to Israel. In addition, under Art. 4 of the law, the Council of Ministers is mandated to take the necessary measures to prevent the export of goods that are proven to be re-exported to Israel by the importing country.

Under the Type Approval Regulation, products are classified into four RTTE categories. Under Art. 22, products falling within class 0 are subject only to a self-declaration scheme. Under Arts. 23-25, products in classes 1, 2, and 3 are subject to different third-party assessment procedures for each class. Appendix A presents the product classifications.

A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Lebanon's law and jurisprudence. Nevertheless, Arts. 69 and 70 of Law No. 81 of 10 October 2018 on Electronic Transactions and Personal Data stipulate that network service providers are not bound to monitor information, and must promptly remove or block access to information they send or store temporarily upon the sender’s request or pursuant to a decision issued by a competent court, under penalty of law. Similarly, data hosts are required to remove or disable access to such information immediately once they become aware of its unlawful nature.

It is reported that Lebanon requires mobile network operators to collect and store user's personal information and proof of identity for SIM registration. The relevant legislation could not be found.

Through judicial orders submitted to the Cybercrimes Bureau of the Internal Security Forces, the Lebanese government has reportedly imposed restrictions on access to certain Isreali websites. One notable example is the Israel-based web-hosting service Wix, which has been inaccessible on mobile networks and several internet service providers since December 2018. This action was based on a court ruling that invoked the Israel Boycott Law.

The Lebanese government retains several state-owned monopolies within the telecommunications sector. The state-owned enterprise Ogero owns and operates all fixed-line telecommunications services in Lebanon, while the two mobile and internet service providers, Touch and Alfa, are likewise under state ownership. In 2002, Lebanon enacted Law No. 431 to provide for the privatisation of the telecommunications sector; however, this legislation has yet to be implemented.

The telecom sector is fully owned by the Lebanese state, which holds full ownership of the fixed-line operator Ogero Telecom and the two mobile network operators, Alfa and Touch.

Lebanon does not mandate functional separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, it is reported that an obligation of accounting separation can be found in the Significant Market Power Regulation (Decision No. 3/2009). Moreover, according to Art. 30 of the Telecommunications Law, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) may require SMP operators to comply with accounting rules or take any other precautionary measures as deemed appropriate to ensure a competitive market.

Reports indicate that the licensing framework set out in the Telecommunications Law is not operational and independent. In fact, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which woud be in charge of issuing new licences, has operated without a functioning board for most of the past two decades. As such, the telecommunications sector remains entirely owned, managed, and regulated by the Ministry of Telecommunications.