Assaf at the Saudi Media Forum: Collective negotiation with digital platforms is a necessity
The General Supervisor of Palestinian Official Media, Dr. Ahmed Assaf, stressed that dealing with global digital platforms requires a unified Arab strategy based on the principle of "collective negotiation," emphasizing that this step is no longer a luxury but an urgent strategic necessity to compel major technology companies to respect Arab laws and legislation and protect the national sovereignty of countries.
A call to emulate the European experience
Assaf's remarks came during his active participation in the third edition of the Saudi Media Forum, held in Riyadh under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Assaf explained that Arab countries should learn from the successful European experience, where the European Union, thanks to its political and economic unity, has been able to impose strict conditions on technology giants, such as data protection laws and regulations governing digital services—something no single country can achieve alone.
The Palestinian official pointed out that individual countries make them the weakest link in the face of the influence of these cross-border companies, while collective negotiation gives Arab countries political and economic weight that forces platforms to modify their algorithms and policies in accordance with Arab values and preserves the material and moral rights of local media institutions.
The importance of digital sovereignty in a changing world
In a related context, Assaf emphasized the need to simultaneously launch dedicated Arabic platforms capable of addressing the world in multiple languages, in order to break the information monopoly and strengthen the Arabic narrative in the digital sphere. This call comes at a time when Arabic content, and Palestinian content in particular, faces significant challenges related to restricted access or digital censorship, making the possession of independent media tools a matter of national security.
Leading Saudi initiatives to guide the scene
At the forum, themed "Media in a Changing World," Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossari announced a comprehensive package of strategic initiatives, including the launch of 12 high-quality initiatives aimed at empowering the media sector. Among the most prominent of these initiatives is the "Saudi Mb" media innovation camp, reflecting the Kingdom's focus on investing in digital infrastructure and human capital.
The Saudi Media Forum is gaining increasing regional and international importance, with the participation of more than 3,000 media leaders and experts from around the world, which reinforces Riyadh’s position as a vital media center in the region and a driving force towards shaping the future of Arab media in light of rapid technological transformations.
