Amman — Remarks by Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos during the Future of Communication and Media Forum in Amman have raised questions about how artificial intelligence and digital technologies can be used to develop media content and enhance its credibility.
Morcos said technological development and digital transformation are realities that media institutions must keep pace with and benefit from, stressing that technology should be an addition to the media sector, not a replacement for it.
He said technological development should not be approached by placing media and technology in opposition to each other, but rather by achieving integration between the two in ways that strengthen the capabilities of media work and allow its tools to evolve.
No Substitute for Journalists
Commenting on the issue, Professor of Law and Cybercrime and media legislation expert Dr. Ashraf Al-Ra’i said artificial intelligence has become an established reality in media work and is no longer merely a technological option that institutions can ignore, amid the rapid evolution of communication and content-production tools.
Al-Ra’i said keeping pace with these changes and benefiting from their capabilities has become necessary to improve media performance and expand its reach, provided this does not come at the expense of the credibility of the media message or the professional and human role of journalists.
He noted that AI tools offer media institutions broad capabilities in analyzing information and data, verifying news, detecting misleading content, and developing editing and production methods.
Al-Ra’i stressed the need to use these tools with caution and responsibility, noting that the speed at which news is produced does not necessarily mean it is accurate. Likewise, the ability of intelligent systems to generate content does not mean they can understand its human and social dimensions or assess the consequences of publishing it.
He said legal responsibility is one of the most prominent challenges associated with the use of AI in media, particularly when inaccurate information is published, privacy is violated, individuals’ reputations are harmed, or intellectual property rights are infringed.
He stressed that relying on technology does not exempt media institutions or publishers from legal responsibility when the relevant conditions are met. Content generated by intelligent systems must therefore be subject to applicable legal provisions according to its nature and the consequences of its publication.
Legislation Must Keep Pace With Technology
Al-Ra’i pointed out that technological changes require media legislation to be developed in line with emerging developments, including issues related to synthetic content, deepfakes and personal data protection.
At the same time, he stressed that efforts to address digital risks should not become a pretext for imposing disproportionate restrictions on press and freedom of expression. A balance must be maintained between protecting rights and freedoms and ensuring that media work is conducted responsibly.
On the ethical front, Al-Ra’i said credibility is not achieved simply by using advanced tools to verify information, but is fundamentally based on the professional conscience that guides journalistic work.
“The journalist is responsible for verifying the accuracy of information, respecting individuals’ privacy, avoiding misinformation and manipulation of facts, and recognizing the public’s right to know whether the content they receive was produced or substantially modified using artificial intelligence,” he said.
He added that some practices may be technically possible without necessarily constituting legal violations, but they can raise ethical questions that require careful consideration. What technology permits is not necessarily appropriate for publication, he explained, and competition to reach audiences quickly does not justify compromising the professional values on which journalism is based.
Journalists Remain at the Core of Media
Al-Ra’i stressed that journalists will remain at the heart of the media process regardless of how far AI tools develop, because journalism is not limited to collecting and drafting information. It also requires understanding contexts, analytical ability, assessing the public interest and recognizing responsibility toward individuals and society.
He called on media institutions to establish clear rules governing the use of AI in newsrooms and to train journalists in the legal and ethical aspects associated with these technologies, while ensuring continued human oversight of content before publication.
He stressed that the future of media should not be built around a conflict between journalists and technology, but on a partnership that harnesses AI capabilities without abandoning professional responsibility.
Al-Ra’i explained that these tools may help journalists produce news more quickly, but they cannot give them credibility, which stems from their commitment to truth, respect for people and awareness of their responsibility for what they publish.
Strengthening Media Capabilities
Technology and communications expert Wasfi Al-Safadi said the use of AI in media institutions is no longer limited to upgrading technological tools, but has become a transformation affecting various stages of journalistic work — from gathering and analyzing information, through verifying its accuracy and producing content, to delivering it to audiences in more diverse and effective ways.
Al-Safadi said media institutions can use these technologies to automate repetitive tasks, analyze data and documents, verify news and images, monitor misleading content, and repurpose media materials in multiple formats suited to audience needs and preferences.
He noted that the experiences of international media organizations, including Reuters, The Washington Post and the UK-based Full Fact, demonstrate AI’s potential to support investigative journalism, accelerate news coverage, expand fact-checking and develop data-driven content.
Shared Responsibility
Al-Safadi stressed that benefiting from these capabilities requires more than simply introducing modern technologies into newsrooms. It requires an integrated system of safeguards and responsibilities that ensures the professional and ethical use of technology.
He said governments and regulatory authorities are required to develop legislation and policies that protect media freedom, privacy and intellectual property rights while allowing room for responsible innovation.
“Media institutions are responsible for establishing clear rules for the use of AI, verifying its outputs and disclosing synthetic content when the nature of the material requires it,” he said.
Al-Safadi added that technology companies are required to improve the accuracy and transparency of their systems, strengthen data protection and reduce algorithmic bias. Journalists, meanwhile, must develop their digital skills, maintain professional independence and verify information before publication.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening media literacy among the public, helping people distinguish reliable information from misleading content and engage consciously with material produced or modified by intelligent systems.
At the Heart of the Media Process
Al-Safadi stressed that AI should remain a supporting tool for journalists, not a substitute for them. While these technologies can accelerate research and information analysis, they cannot replace professional judgment, human communication with sources or the ethical and legal responsibility associated with publication.
He said international experience shows that successful AI applications in media depend on effective human review, verifiable sources, safeguards protecting rights and institutions that take responsibility for the content they publish.
The challenge facing Arab media institutions, he added, is not to race to adopt the latest technologies, but to select applications that meet their actual needs, build the capabilities required to use them effectively and establish rules ensuring that technology serves the public interest.
Achieving this goal requires integration between national policies, legislation, governance within media institutions, and technological and professional responsibility, alongside raising public awareness.
Credibility Is the Measure of Success
Al-Safadi said the success of media institutions in using AI should not be measured by the volume of content they produce or the speed at which they publish it, but by their ability to deliver more accurate, credible and independent journalism, conduct in-depth investigations, protect their sources, hold decision-makers accountable and respond to society’s needs.
He explained that these technologies can help accelerate access to information, uncover evidence, improve content presentation and enhance audience engagement, but they cannot replace professional conscience, human judgment or responsibility for the truth.
Al-Safadi stressed that the ultimate goal is to build more efficient, reliable and independent media that uses AI capabilities to enhance the value of human work while preserving the journalist’s role as the person responsible for verification, interpretation, accountability and communication with society.
