A group of rights organizations urged Jordan to scrap a controversial draft cybercrime law on Monday, joining a chorus of activists opposing the bill that they say would further undermine freedom of speech in the kingdom.
The Jordanian Parliament is currently discussing amendments that the government has recently introduced to the country’s already existing cybercrime law. The bill includes 41 articles compared to 15 in the 2015 law, and imposes hefty penalties and criminal charges for crimes such as using the internet to “undermine national unity,” “inciting immorality,” spreading “fake news” and publishing “hate speech.”
Legal experts have warned that the vague phrasing of the articles give authorities more power to crack down on free speech.
A joint statement by Human Rights Watch joined Access Now, ARTICLE 19 and 11 other organizations read, “Due to the repressive, ambiguous, and complex nature of the proposed law, Jordanian legislators must consult with civil society groups to explore alternative, rights-respecting ways of addressing legitimate concerns around hate speech and disinformation, which are not unique to Jordan.”
