The Gap Between Legislation and Implementation in Protecting Children from Digital Risks in Lebanon: A Qualitative Study

The study aimed to analyze experts’ views on the adequacy of Lebanese legislation in protecting children from digital risks, explore barriers to its implementation, and to identify requirements for narrowing the gap between legal provisions and institutional practice. It adopted an exploratory and analytical qualitative approach, drawing on a reanalysis of interviews conducted for the doctoral dissertation with 10 experts and specialists. The interview material was analyzed thematically, with role theory informing the interpretation of responsibilities and relationships among relevant stakeholders. The findings revealed differing assessments of existing legislation. Some participants emphasized fragmented legal provisions and the need to update them to address emerging risks, while others highlighted the flexibility of certain laws and the importance of strengthening the conditions for their implementation. The interviews also identified barriers related to insufficient funding, to specialized training, and technical resources, alongside difficulties in pursuing cross-border violations. They further revealed existing cooperative relationships and institutional initiatives, although participants differed in their assessments of their consistency, continuity, and procedural clarity. The study concluded that, from the experts’ perspective, strengthening protection requires combining legislative reform with effective implementation mechanisms, clarifying responsibilities, enhancing institutional capacities, facilitating reporting and follow-up, and promoting digital education and prevention within a coordinated national framework.

Keywords: Legislation, Child Protection, digital risks

Research Language: Arabic

How to cite:
ElQarar Journal for Peer-Reviewed Scientific Research, Vol. 12, Issue 35, Year (3), pp. 316-331.

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⚖️ Conflict of Interest:

The author/authors declare no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this research.

💰 Funding:

This study did not receive any financial support or grant from any public, private, or non-profit entity.

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