Freedom of Opinion and Expression Coalition in Lebanon held a press conference on Thursday
at Station Beirut in Sin El Fil to address recent defamation and disinformation campaigns
targeting independent media outlets and civil society organizations.
Speakers at the event described the attacks as a coordinated attempt to discredit watchdog
journalism and shift public focus away from Lebanon’s ongoing financial and political collapse.
Coordinated Smear Campaigns Target Independent Media
The coalition includes various civil society actors, legal advocacy groups, and independent news
outlets. Among those targeted were Daraj, Megaphone, The Legal Agenda, and the Alternative
Press Syndicate, who have all played key roles in exposing corruption and mismanagement in
Lebanon, particularly in the years following the October 17 uprising.
Studies Reveal Digital Disinformation Tactics
Jad Shahrour of the Samir Kassir Foundation stated that the smear campaigns emerged when the country urgently needed unity to confront a deepening economic collapse. Instead, he explained, public attention is deliberately diverted through direct attacks on press freedom. Shahrour pointed to an analysis conducted and shared by the SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom, which revealed that the digital campaigns were highly coordinated, involving
suspicious accounts that repeatedly circulated identical accusations and hashtags — suggesting a well-organized disinformation effort.
“This is a clear attempt to silence independent media and distract from the root causes of the
crisis,” said Shahrour. “We stand today in defense of the public’s right to know and the future of
free journalism.”
An analysis conducted and shared by the SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom reveals
that the digital campaigns were coordinated, involving suspicious accounts that repeatedly shared identical accusations and hashtags, suggesting a well-organized disinformation effort.
Legal Pushback and a Call to Protect Press Freedom
Diana Moukalled of Daraj stressed that her platform adheres to international standards of
transparency and accountability. She explained that Daraj is ready to disclose its financial
records before the courts and questioned whether the outlets spreading falsehoods would be
willing to do the same. Moukalled linked the attacks to Daraj’s past investigative reporting,
particularly stories that exposed banking sector abuses that affected over one and a half million
Lebanese depositors.
Attorney Diala Chehade, representing Megaphone, stated that the attacks were not a media
dispute but a political and financial assault designed to discredit any platform that questions
Lebanon’s robust banking sector. “The campaign seeks to make an example of Megaphone and
intimidate others from doing the same,” she said.
The coalition concluded the press conference by calling on Lebanese authorities to uphold their
duty to protect freedom of expression, support press independence, and reject political influence
over public discourse. They stressed that protecting independent media is essential to preserving democratic accountability and safeguarding the public’s right to access truthful and transparent information.
