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.

It is reported that the LGBT+ dating application Grindr, initially blocked in 2019 on Alfa and Touch, which are the two primary mobile network operators in Lebanon, remained inaccessible throughout 2024. Also, in 2020, the judiciary ordered the Ministry of Telecommunications to block applications accused of spreading false information about unofficial currency exchange rates, and during this process Google’s Firebase service was also blocked. In 2021, OGERO, the state-owned telecommunications provider, and several private internet service providers extended these measures to platforms offering unofficial currency exchanges. It remains uncertain whether these restrictions persisted into 2024.

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.

Lebanon lacks a comprehensive legal framework for personal data protection, although there are certain regulatory provisions in this area. Law No. 81 of 10 October 2018 on Electronic Transaction and Personal Data (قانون رقم 81 المعاملات الالكترونية و البيانات ذات الطابع الشخصي) provides the basic legal structure for safeguarding personal data. Yet, the law does not establish an independent data protection authority, imposes relatively limited obligations on data controllers and processors, and omits a definition of consent or explicit provisions governing its requirement and conditions. Nonetheless, it incorporates specific privacy-related obligations, including data subjects’ rights, transparency requirements, information disclosure, data retention rules, and the handling of sensitive personal data, while also prescribing criminal penalties for breaches of its privacy provisions.

Art. 72 of Law on Electronic Transaction and Personal Data requires IT service providers to retain data relating to traffic generated by all individuals using their services. This obligation is intended to facilitate the identification of users and includes the preservation of other technical information associated with communications for a period of three years, beginning on the date the service is implemented. For the purposes of this provision, IT service providers include any business or organisation that enables users to access an electronic communications network and provides direct information transmission services. The term also applies to data hosts, which are systems used to store third-party information of any nature, whether free of charge or for remuneration, and to make such information publicly accessible through direct communication services.

It is reported that, in 2013, the office of the public prosecutor issued a directive requiring all internet service providers (ISPs) and internet cafés to retain communications data for a period of one year. The directive instructs all providers of landline and wireless internet services for residential and corporate use, as well as cafés and shops that supply clients with devices enabling internet access, to implement all necessary measures to activate and preserve Internet log files transmitted through their servers and routers. In addition, they are required to create periodic backup copies to safeguard these files against loss, ensuring their retention for a minimum duration of one year.

According to Art. 9 of the Telecommunication Interception Act, the interception of communications may be authorised by an administrative order issued by either the Minister of the Interior or the Minister of Defence, subject to prior approval by the Prime Minister, for the purpose of gathering information aimed at combating terrorism, crimes against state security, and organised crime. To be lawful, such judicial or administrative interception orders must be in writing, duly justified, and should specify the means of communication subject to interception and the duration of interception, which may not exceed two months and cannot be extended except in accordance with the same rules and conditions. It is also reported that in recent years the cabinet has passed motions giving the security agencies temporary but unhindered access to all telecommunications metadata. Alfa and Touch, which are Lebanon’s two main mobile network operators and are owned by the government, are compelled to comply with these measures.