Arabic Legal Information Sources on the Web: An Evaluative Study for Developing a Standard

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Abstract

Legal information constitutes a fundamental pillar in the development of democratic societies, as it contributes to the implementation of the principles of transparency and accountability, and strengthens trust between citizens and state institutions. With the advancement of technology and the increasing reliance on the internet—a platform for information exchange—electronic legal sources have become more readily accessible. However, this quantitative increase has not necessarily been matched by a corresponding improvement in quality and reliability.

In Egypt, legal sources form an essential part of the country’s technological and cultural development and play a crucial role in enabling citizens to access legal information easily and promptly. These platforms encompass a wide range of legal resources, including laws, regulations, decrees, judicial rulings, and other legal information. This study aimed to propose a comprehensive framework for evaluating the quality of digital legal information sources available on the web, based on international standards such as FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and PQM (technical aspects, content, functionality, and user experience). Through this proposal, the study sought to enhance transparency and ensure the accuracy and quality of digital legal information, facilitating access as a fundamental human right.

The study employed a descriptive-analytical comparative methodology to examine a sample of digital legal information sources available online, using content analysis to compare them against the specified quality criteria.

The study’s findings highlighted the significant diversity of digital legal information sources, including official government portals, court websites, digital libraries, educational platforms, and legal databases. These sources play a vital role in promoting transparency, legal awareness, and supporting academic research. The study also indicated that countries, both Arab and non-Arab, make significant efforts to provide access to such information through document digitization, the creation of comprehensive portals, and offering electronic legal services while adhering to quality and cybersecurity standards. Furthermore, the study emphasized the pivotal role of e-government in Egypt in this domain through the provision of specialized digital platforms, despite challenges related to infrastructure, the digital divide, and inter-agency coordination.

The research underscored the importance of evaluating digital legal sources according to international standards, such as FAIR, PQM, ISO standards, and transparency principles, to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and accessibility of information. In this context, the study proposed an integrated framework for publishing, providing access to, and evaluating these sources, combining formal, substantive, evaluative, and accessibility criteria. This framework serves as an actionable reference to improve the quality of digital legal content and enhance its widespread usability.