Testing the neutrality of the institution
In any case, this media battle gains its greatest sensitivity because it coincides with a broad change in the leadership of the military institution. According to a statistic published by CBS News, at least 20 generals, admirals and civilian officials have left or been dismissed since Pete Hegseth took over the Ministry of Defense, equivalent to 10 percent of the command personnel. The resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on August 31, after the dismissal of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, deepened questions about the path of modernization and leadership during the war.
Democratic critics and former officials believe that dismissals weaken expertise and bring the institution closer to loyalty tests, while the president and the Minister of Defense legally have the authority to change senior leaders, and the ministry says that talk of chaos is “baseless,” and that it is refocusing on readiness and the “warrior spirit.” Also, changes, once they occur, do not prove that every leader was removed for partisan reasons, any more than every security rule makes it an act of censorship. But the problem lies in the cumulative effect and the lack of public explanations. This is because the broader the scope of dismissals and the narrower the press channels, the more difficult it becomes for the public and Congress to distinguish between professional reform and political restructuring. Then, reports of the appointment of media figures identified with the right-wing political “MAGA” discourse to civilian positions within the Pentagon, and its continued promotion of Hegseth and attacking his critics, reinforce the impression that the issue is also related to managing the narrative, not just controlling leaks.
Accordingly, critics believe that the issue is not essentially about the privileges of reporters, but rather about the relationship of power and information in times of war. Management can set rules to protect secrets and hold employees accountable, but this authority is called into question when equal standards and examineable explanations are absent. The courts and Congress will determine, as much as the Pentagon’s decisions, whether “Stars and Stripes” will remain a model for independent journalism within a military institution, or whether it will become a sign that the reshaping of Washington also included narrowing the distance between official news and independent news.
Media organizations have begun reformatting their content, allowing artificial intelligence tools to read it and filter it in their answers to users’ questions. This is a trend that experts consider an indication of a shift in the digital media market imposed by market rules and increased reliance on artificial intelligence tools.
According to a report published by the DJ Day website last week, USA Today has already begun testing new ways to format content and enable artificial intelligence engines to read it, in a step that “aims to enhance USA Today’s chances of concluding agreements to license its content with artificial intelligence companies.” The website quoted Mike Reed, Chairman and CEO of USA Today, as saying, “The organization is now required to produce and coordinate content for both humans and machines.”
For your information, USA Today is not alone in this trend. Other organizations such as Time and The Economist have begun producing content that is easier for artificial intelligence engines to read.
In a comment to Asharq Al-Awsat, Mai Abdel-Ghani, a researcher in digital media and a professor of media at the University of Benghazi in Libya, considered the restructuring of machine-directed digital content “a transformation imposed by structural transformations in search behaviors and the digital publishing market.”
She explained that “dealing with artificial intelligence is no longer limited to the legal conflict over intellectual property, but rather extends to building an integrated technical and commercial business model, based on transforming content into a knowledge asset specifically designed for artificial intelligence.”
She added, “Media institutions are now seeking to ensure that their content appears in smart search systems and artificial intelligence models, facilitate reading it across various devices, increase audience interaction, and re-exploit press archives to produce renewed content that enhances reliability and opportunities for achieving financial returns... Therefore, this strategy helps media institutions diversify their profits by selling their data to technology companies, reducing reliance on traditional advertising, and also protecting their intellectual rights and establishing their position as a reliable source, with the brand name appearing directly in the answers of artificial intelligence engines.”
However, Mai Abdel-Ghani believes that “this will incur huge costs on media institutions, and put them in front of technical challenges to modify their structure and withstand the fluctuations of algorithms, with the decline of direct visits to their sites, as the user is satisfied with the answers of artificial intelligence,” stressing that “this transformation threatens to deepen the gap between major institutions and local journalism.”
Hence, she continued: “The future of journalism is shaped by an equation that balances the needs of the reader and the requirements of the machine according to a two-layer model: the first layer relates to human editorial production, and focuses on the added value that artificial intelligence cannot provide, such as field investigations, deep analyses, exclusive dialogues, and human experiences, while the second layer relates to distribution and software configuration; “Algorithms automatically disassemble the article, convert it to digital formats, and process its metadata, to facilitate its consumption through artificial intelligence software.”
This step falls within a strategy known as “GEO,” meaning “optimizing content to suit artificial intelligence engines.” This is a strategy similar to that of improving content to be compatible with traditional search engine algorithms (SEO).
On the other hand, Mohamed Al-Sawy, a specialized Egyptian researcher and lecturer in media monitoring and analysis, believes that the trend towards preparing content that is more understandable and accessible by robots and artificial intelligence engines is “an important indicator of a shift in the nature of the media content industry and its economics.”
Here, Al-Sawy explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that “press organizations are no longer thinking only about how to attract readers to their sites, but also about how to make their content a source that artificial intelligence tools can rely on, especially with the emergence of a growing market for licensing content to artificial intelligence companies.”
He added, “This transformation goes beyond journalism, and extends to public relations, reputation management, and image research for governments, companies, and institutions,” noting that “it is customary to measure media presence through indicators such as voice share, sentiment analysis, and coverage trends, but today a new level of measurement has emerged, which is how the organization appears in the answers of artificial intelligence tools, and the accuracy of the information it provides.”
Therefore, Al-Sawy does not believe that “the future means that journalism will write for machines instead of humans... Rather, what is happening indicates the trend of journalism to write for both machines and humans, and just as search engines imposed, in the past, concepts such as improving appearance in search engines, a new concept now appears regarding the extent of the organization’s presence, information, and sources within artificial intelligence’s answers.”
He concluded by saying, “The institution’s ability to influence the information environment from which artificial intelligence answers are formed will, in the future, be considered a new indicator of presence and media reputation.”
The STC Group and the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) signed a memorandum of understanding to explore strategic areas of cooperation aimed at enhancing media production capabilities in the Kingdom, on the sidelines of the international technical conference “LEAP 2026” in the capital, Riyadh.
The memorandum came to combine the capabilities of “STC” in digital infrastructure, communications and cloud computing, and the expertise of “SRMG” in media, content creation and production, as the cooperation focuses on supporting the Saudi production system, and promoting the creation of high-quality content and presenting it to the public inside and outside the country.
The cooperation between “STC”, the enabler of digital transformation, and “SRMG”, the largest integrated media group in the region, reflects a joint commitment to developing technologies, platforms and production capabilities that support Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading regional and global destination in the field of content production.
For his part, Riad Moawad, CEO of the business unit at STC, said: “We have the infrastructure, cloud capabilities and technical expertise necessary to support the next generation of media production in the Kingdom,” adding: “Through our partnership with (SRMG) we combine these capabilities and leading media expertise in the region to work together to develop the content production sector” in Saudi Arabia.
In turn, Jumana Al-Rashed, CEO of SRMG, explained that “technology is reshaping the media industry, in parallel with changing audience behavior and increasing demand for high-quality content delivered quickly and on a large scale,” stressing their continued “investment in capabilities, partnerships, and platforms that enhance methods of creating and presenting content.”
Al-Rashed indicated, “Through our cooperation with (STC), we will explore more interconnected production models, supported by cloud computing and artificial intelligence, which will contribute to supporting Saudi talent and the continued growth of the media sector in the Kingdom.”
Under the memorandum, the two sides will explore cooperation opportunities within five main areas, including providing highly efficient communication solutions, including fiber optics and edge computing, to support modern studios, remote production environments and cloud workflows through SRMG operations. They will also discuss opportunities to develop modern production centers equipped with advanced broadcast technologies.
The memorandum also includes secure cloud platforms for storing, editing, and managing media content, in addition to common workflows for the post-production phase, which contributes to increasing the speed and efficiency of content delivery. The two groups will also explore and test emerging production technologies, including virtual production, spot processing, and augmented and virtual reality tools.
The two sides will also evaluate the use of artificial intelligence solutions across the stages of content preparation, including script development, video editing, content suggestion, and automation of production processes, with a focus on increasing production efficiency and enhancing creative capabilities on a large scale.
By combining STC’s advanced technical capabilities with SRMG’s media expertise, its deep understanding of the region’s audience, and its content production capabilities, cooperation will contribute to developing a more cohesive and future-ready media production environment in the country, supporting Saudi creative talents and producing content that keeps pace with the aspirations of the local audience and reaches audiences around the world.
“Social media” has recently transcended its role as a platform for entertainment and knowledge exchange to become a tool in which the roles of the citizen intertwine between content creator, censor, and “executioner” at a certain time. This transformation came after the mobile phone became a means for some people to “implement self-censorship.”
Likewise, digital documentation of violations and transgressions has become an unofficial means of detection, which often precedes institutional action by specialized bodies.
The phenomenon of field photography
According to observers, it is clearly possible to observe an increasing pattern of the use of field photography as a weapon of “detection or pressure.” For example, the Egyptian security authorities daily reveal the circumstances of crimes that originate primarily from video clips on social media sites.
While these filming scenes succeeded in recovering rights and urgent intervention from the Egyptian authorities, other incidents revealed the dark side of this practice when “documentation in some cases turned into a means of defamation or settling scores.”
Experts believe that “the conflict between the virtue of disclosure and the danger of chaos reflects a transitional phase in the structure of societies.” These experts agree that “the real challenge is not to restrict individual initiatives; Rather, it is about transforming it from spontaneous practices that may tend towards defamation, into responsible practices that intersect with legal frameworks and adhere to the ethics of the digital profession.”
Weapons and broadcast stations
Hassan Mustafa, professor of digital marketing and artificial intelligence at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s branch in Dubai, pointed out in the context of talking about the essence of the crisis that “individual accounts have become a weapon and independent broadcast stations lack professional standards.”
Mustafa told Asharq Al-Awsat that the accounts have turned into broadcast platforms. Because publishing tools have become available to everyone, while the function that the newsroom performed has disappeared, starting with asking before publishing, verifying the source, assessing the damage, and balancing the right to know with people’s dignity.
According to Mustafa, “The problem now is that many accounts operate according to the logic of speed, precedence, and emotion. Therefore, a short clip without context has become able to build a complete social judgment within minutes, and the documentation may turn into defamation.” He then added, “The public does not always see the difference between publication and verification; User-generated content should be treated as unverified material until proven otherwise.”
On the other hand, observers believe that responsibility extends beyond the behavior of individuals and reaches the essence of the design of digital platforms. It places considerations of financial profit and attracting views at the top of its priorities, transcending moral and societal considerations.
Here Mustafa points out that “algorithms are not neutral tools.” It ranks content based on engagement signals such as views, comments, and shares... and explicit content produces these signals more quickly than soft content; Therefore, a fundamental defect occurs. Thus, he points out, “Algorithms may push society towards defamation and simplification of facts; What creates an emotional court instead of public awareness.”
Global and local facts
Globally, there are many international models that reflect the dual role of digital documentation as a law enforcement tool and sometimes as a source of pressure. The most prominent example remains the George Floyd case in the United States in 2020, which made the popular lens an engine for changing legal paths.
In Africa, a few months ago, a bystander's filming in Kenya of a policeman shooting a street vendor led to the officer being arrested and referred for investigation. In Tanzania, which neighbors Kenya, police investigations into a mass sexual assault crime documented on video in 2024 led to the legal prosecution of the accused, with the video’s photographers and promoters included in the investigation.
In parallel, in Egypt, during the recent period, the authorities were able to arrest a person who appeared in a video clip trying to steal electrical wires from a facility after a video was circulated that documented the incident, while other incidents revealed the “danger of allegation and defamation,” such as the incident of a female student filming a young man inside a “Cairo Subway” metro car, claiming that he was “consuming narcotic substances.” Investigations later proved that the young man was preparing a regular tobacco cigarette. Which prompted him to file a report against the girl on charges of “defamation.”
“Executioner” and popular court
Canadian social psychology expert, Nada Qaddah, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, warned of “the emergence of something resembling a digital popular court that turns the masses into executioners and issues judgment in a hurry without verifying the validity of the claim or suspicion.” She believes that societies, before communication platforms, “adhered to an unwritten system of controls such as modesty, concealment, fear of harming others, and the feeling that human dignity does not belong to either the street or the public.”
Qaddah added: “Today, people live within a new economy governed by the value of attention... Some actions are no longer measured solely by the standard of right and wrong, but by their ability to attract views and interaction.” She explained: “When a person becomes just an image, it becomes easy to lose touch with his humanity. Because the screen creates an emotional distance that makes the other less present as an object with feelings, and more present as content.
She continued: “We are in need of digital education that redefines freedom... Freedom is not to use my ability without limits, but to have sufficient awareness to know when to stop out of respect for the dignity of others.”
Regulating the relationship and achieving justice
In another context, about how to organize the relationship when using “digital documentation”. Dutch journalist and correspondent specializing in Middle East affairs, Joost Scheffers, stresses that “the effectiveness of digital documentation does not stop at the moment of spread or trend, but rather is linked to the subsequent institutional and legal path.” Scheffers added to Asharq Al-Awsat that social media can contribute to achieving justice, provided that the safety of the victims is ensured and relief is provided to them first. He stressed “the necessity of transforming these tools into means of effective control and accountability... as it is not enough to publish photos of the arrest of the accused; Rather, the entire judicial process must be followed, starting from bringing the accused before the judiciary, all the way to the rulings issued and the role of the defense. This is because transparency in litigation procedures is the true criterion for transforming digital content into a law enforcement tool.”
Another point that was touched upon by interested people and experts is the possibility of a person moving, due to the means of communication, from being a witness to an event to being a producer of a scene, and from a recipient of information to a participant in its creation and dissemination... and between this distance, a psychological and social transformation occurred, as the internal barrier that used to make a person stop before he violates another human being receded.
Legal protection
From a legal standpoint, human rights and media legislation consultant, Ihab Salam, draws a line between documentation and publication. He explains to Asharq Al-Awsat that “photography in itself is permissible for everyone and is not considered a crime, as long as it does not fall within legal prohibitions, such as photographing places prohibited by law, or photographing people without their consent. Because this represents a violation of the privacy protected by the Constitution and the law... regardless of whether these images are offensive or not, but there are exceptions to this in specific cases, including photographing a crime while it is occurring, as the law gives priority to documenting the crime over the right to privacy.”
Hence, Salam emphasizes that “publishing is another act subsequent to photography, and it is legally required to obtain the consent of the owner of the image or content, and legal protection here relates to protecting and respecting privacy before it is linked to abuse.” He goes on to say that “publishing any content that includes defamation or abuse
