Cairo: Speaker of the House of Representatives Hisham Badawi affirmed that building genuine Arab digital sovereignty has become a strategic imperative driven by rapidly accelerating international transformations. He called for the formulation of a unified Arab parliamentary vision leading to binding Arab legislation that strengthens data protection and cybersecurity, and establishes an integrated Arab digital infrastructure that reduces external dependence and safeguards national interests.
According to State Information Service Egypt, this statement was made during his speech at the Eighth Conference of the Arab Parliament and Speakers of Arab Councils and Parliaments, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo. Badawi expressed his pride in participating in this Arab forum and praised the efforts of Arab Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al Yamahi for the development achieved in the performance of the Arab Parliament and its enhanced role in serving Arab causes.
The Speaker highlighted that the regular convening of the conference reflects a sincere will to strengthen joint Arab parliamentary action amid unprecedented changes and challenges. He emphasized that selecting "Arab Digital Sovereignty" as the theme underscores Arab parliaments' acute awareness of the challenges defining the current phase. The issue, he explained, is no longer an intellectual luxury but has become a decisive battle amid digital transformations that have made data and information crucial elements of national power, reshaping concepts of national security and sovereignty.
Badawi further explained that the digital revolution has imposed a new reality in which sovereignty is no longer confined to geographical borders, but has extended to cyberspace and the strength of digital infrastructure. He stressed that protecting national privacy and cybersecurity has become fundamental to state stability and the protection of its interests.
Emphasizing that digital sovereignty does not mean isolation, Badawi spoke on the ability to nationally manage data, digital infrastructure, and critical technologies. He reviewed Egypt's experience, noting the establishment of the Government Data and Cloud Computing Center in the New Capital, enhancing digital asset protection and sustainability of government services.
On the legislative front, Badawi highlighted the importance of establishing a legal environment for secure digital transformation. He mentioned several laws, including the Cybercrime Law and the Personal Data Protection Law, which regulate data processing and safeguard privacy.
He affirmed that the future of development and security in the Arab world is now linked to possessing digital tools and protecting cybersecurity. Legislative councils, he noted, have a historic responsibility to establish frameworks that safeguard information wealth amid geopolitical conflicts.
Badawi called for a unified Arab parliamentary vision that includes developing Arab legislative frameworks, localizing digital data, supporting Arab digital innovation, and investing in human capital. He expressed confidence in Arab parliaments' ability to translate this vision into reality, supporting future Arab generations and protecting digital privacy.
In conclusion, Badawi affirmed Egypt's full support for Arab initiatives aimed at strengthening digital cooperation, exchanging expertise, and building an integrated cybersecurity and data protection system, contributing to sustainable development and reinforcing security and stability in Arab countries.