S4 | E4 - Minister Defends Oracle Deal and Fears Over Who Controls Lebanon's Digital Future

In this episode of Reel Talk, I sit down with Kamal Shehadeh to confront one of the most controversial decisions Lebanon has made in its digital future: the Memorandum of Understanding with Oracle.At first glance, it’s framed as opportunity training 50,000 Lebanese in AI and cloud computing.But beneath the surface, a far more urgent question emerges:What happens when a nation at war begins aligning its digital future with a company deeply embedded in global intelligence networks and closely tied to power structures that do not serve it?WHAT WE UNCOVER IN THIS CONVERSATION:– The government’s position: Why this deal is about talent, not data– The fear many Lebanese are voicing and why it cannot be dismissed– The truth about Larry Ellison and Oracle’s global influence– The U.S. Cloud Act and what it means for YOUR data no matter where it’s stored– Why countries like Switzerland rejected similar partnerships– How France tried to protect its sovereignty… and still became dependent– Whether Lebanon is building capacity or quietly entering digital dependencyTIMESTAMPS:00:00 — Introduction & Why This Conversation Matters01:00 — The Oracle Deal Explained03:00 — Talent vs. Control: The Government’s Argument07:00 — “There Is No Data Transfer” — Fact or Framing?11:00 — The Lebanon–Israel Context & Public Fear15:00 — Switzerland’s Rejection of US Tech Sovereignty Risks18:30 — France’s Dependency Trap22:00 — The Cloud Act: Who Really Owns Your Data?27:00 — Can Lebanon Actually Protect Its Digital Infrastructure?31:00 — War, Instability & The Future of Lebanon’s Tech Vision36:00 — Final Thoughts: Opportunity or Irreversible Risk?This is not about being for or against technology.This is about understanding who controls it and who it ultimately serves.Watch until the end.Because this conversation affects every single Lebanese citizen whether they realize it yet or not.If you are enjoying our podcasts please consider a small contribution of $5 a month to allow us to keep you informed:https://buymeacoffee.com/daizygedeonSubscribe and turn on notifications so you DON’T miss a video:https://shorturl.at/qrjGx