Jordan - Freedom House 2017_Jordan.pdf · (US$3) 8for a 400 MB plan to JOD 20 (US$28) for 10 GB. According to Pew Research Center, there is a “real and pervasive” demographic

www.freedomonthenet.org

FREEDOM ON THE NET2017

Key Developments: June 2016 – May 2017

● TelecomoperatorscontinuetoblockVoIPcallingfeaturesonseveralcommunicationapps,butanonlinecampaignsuccessfullypressuredthegovernmenttorollbackaproposalforoperatorstounblockthemforamonthlyfee(seeRestrictions onConnectivityandDigital Activism).

● Prodemocracyactivistsweredetainedandprosecutedfortheironlineactivities,includingeightretiredofficia whocalledforreformandoneleaderofaFacebookcampaign(seeProsecutions and Detentions for Online Activities).

● Inafirst severallicensednewswebsiteswereblocked.Jordan’sMediaCommission,thesoleagencywithauthoritytoorderblocks,deniedresponsibilityinsomecases(seeBlocking and Filtering).

● WriterNahedHattar,whowasontrialforrepublishingacartoononFacebookseenasoffensiv toIslam,wasassassinatedbyareligiousextremist(see Prosecutions andDetentions for Online ActivitiesandIntimidation and Violence).

Jordan2016 2017

Internet Freedom Status Partly Free

Partly Free

ObstaclestoAccess(0-25) 13 13

LimitsonContent(0-35) 16 17

ViolationsofUserRights(0-40) 22 23

TOTAL* (0-100) 51 53

* 0=mostfree,100=leastfree

Population: 9.5 million

Internet Penetration 2016 (ITU): 62.3 percent

Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes

Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes

Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes

Press Freedom 2017 Status: Not Free

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IntroductionInternetfreedomdeclinedinJordanduetothemurderofNahedHattarbyareligiousextremistforsharingasatiricalcartoononFacebook,aswellastheblockingofseverallicensednewssites.

Authoritiesarrestedseveralactivistsforcallingforcriticizingpublicofficia orcallingforreform.Communicationappscontinuetoberestrictedduringschoolexaminations,analarmingsignthatthegovernmentwillrestrictinformationattheslightestexcuse.Internetserviceproviders(ISPs)continuetoblockinternetcallingservices(VoIP)onpopularappssuchasViber,WhatsApp,andSkype,indefianc ofJordan’stelecommunicationsregulator.MillionsofJordanianswhorelyontheservicestodobusinessandcommunicatehavebeenunabletoaccessthemsince2015.

LegalrestrictionsoninternetanddigitalmediafreedomareprincipallybasedonacybercrimelawandthePressandPublicationLaw(PPL).Article11ofthecybercrimelawpenalizesonlinedefamationwithafin andprisonsentenceofatleastthreemonths.TheLawInterpretationBureauruledthatthelawcouldalsobeappliedtojournalistsforarticlesthatappearedontheiroutlets’websites,therebycontraveningprotectionsinthePPL.AftertheassassinationoftheNahedHattar,aChristianwriterwhohadmockedextremists’conceptofheaven,anewclimateoffearemergedonsocialmedia.Thegovernmenthasalsosoughttopasstougherlegislationonhatespeechandincitementonline.

Aftertheregionaluprisingsof2011,constitutionalamendmentswerepassedtocalmpublicdiscontent,improvingprotectionsforfreedomofexpressionandstrengtheningtheindependenceofthejudiciary.However,whenamendmentstothePPLcameintoforceinJune2013,nearly300websiteswereblockedforfailingtoobtainalicensefromtheMediaCommission.Duringthecoverageperiod,unlicensedwebsitesremainedblockedbythecommission,butatleasttwolicensedwebsitesweretemporarilyblockedwithoutaclearlegalbasis,inadditiontotheentiretyoftheInternetArchive.

Obstacles to AccessMobile broadband has soared, boosted by the introduction of 4G LTE and new packages with more affordable pricing. However, the ICT market continues to be largely controlled by Jordan’s existing providers.

Availability and Ease of Access

AccordingtotheInternationalTelecommunicationUnion(ITU),62.3percentoftheJordanianpopulationhadaccesstotheinternetbytheendof2017,upfrom34.9percentfiv yearsearlier.1Nationalfigure fromtheTelecommunicationsRegulationCommission(TRC)estimated8.7millionJordanianshadaccesstotheinternet,resultinginapenetrationrateof87percentasofthethirdquarterof2016.Forthesameperiod,theTRCestimatedthenumberofmobilephonesubscriptionstobeslightlyover16.7million,orapenetrationrateof168percent.2Ninetypercentofallinternet

1 InternationalTelecommunicationUnion(ITU),“PercentageofIndividualsUsingtheInternet,”accessedJuly17,2017,http://bit.ly/1cblxxY.2 TelecommunicationsRegulatoryCommission–Jordan,“TelecommunicationsMarketIndicators(Q1/2016-Q3/2016),”[inArabic]http://bit.ly/2pnzbd9.

Introduction

Obstacles to Access


Restrictions on Connectivity

ICT Market

Regulatory Bodies

Limits on Content

Blocking and Filtering

Content Removal

Media, Diversity, and Content Manipulation

Digital Activism

Violations of User Rights

Legal Environment

Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities

Surveillance, Privacy, and Anonymity

Intimidation and Violence

Technical Attacks

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subscriptionsaremobilebroadbandsubscriptions,withthenumberoffixed-lin ADSLsubscriptionssteadilydecreasing.3

Key Access Indicators

Internet penetration (ITU)a 2016 62.3%2015 53.4%2011 34.9%

Mobile penetration (ITU)b 2016 196%2015 179%2011 111%

Average connection speeds (Akamai)c 2017(Q1) 5.8 Mbps2016(Q1) 4.6 Mbps

aInternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“PercentageofIndividualsUsingtheInternet,2000-2016,”http://bit.ly/1cblxxY.bInternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“Mobile-CellularTelephoneSubscriptions,2000-2016,”http://bit.ly/1cblxxY.cAkamai,“StateoftheInternet-ConnectivityReport,Q12017,”https://goo.gl/TQH7L7.

AsurveyconductedbytheDepartmentofStatisticsdemonstratedthatfemalesmadeup43.5percentofJordanianinternetusersin2015.4Thirteenpercentofrespondentscitedthehighcostofinternetserviceasareasonfornotusingtheinternet,whileonlyonepercentsawthelackoflocalizedorArabiconlinecontentasareasonfornotconnecting.5Priceshavedroppedinrecentyears,butinFebruary2017,asalestaxoninternetserviceswasincreasedfrom8to16percent,resultinginapriceincrease.6

MonthlyhomebroadbandsubscriptionsrangefromJOD21(US$30)foradataallowanceof82GB,toJOD50(US$71)forallowanceofupto300GB.7MonthlymobileinternetpricesrangefromJOD2(US$3)fora400MBplantoJOD20(US$28)for10GB.8

AccordingtoPewResearchCenter,thereisa“realandpervasive”demographicdigitaldivideamonginternetusersinJordan.While75percentofindividualsfromtheagesof18-34usetheinternet,thepercentagedroppedto57percentamongthoseaged35yearsandabove.Thecontrastwasevenstarkerwhenlookingateducationlevels.Ninety-sixpercentofpeoplewith“moreeducation”usedtheinternet,comparedtoonly41percentofJordanianswith“lesseducation.”Thereportalsoshedlightoneconomicdifferences with80percentofhigh-incomeindividualsusingtheinternetcomparedto50percentoflow-incomeindividuals.9Meanwhile,accessinmanyofthecountry’sruralgovernoratesremainspoorincomparisontourbanareas.Forinstance,fiber-opti connections(FTTx)offere bythemainprovidersarelimitedtothewealthyareasofwesternAmman,thecapitalcity.

3 TelecommunicationsRegulatoryCommission–Jordan,“TelecommunicationsIndicators(Q4/2015-Q1/2016),”http://bit.ly/2p19Djd4 DepartmentofStatistics,“DistributionofPersonsAged(15+)byUsingofInternet(%),”[Summary]http://www.dos.gov.jo/dos_home_e/main/population/gender/it/2015/10.pdf.5 DepartmentofStatisticsandtheMinistryofInformationandCommunicationsTechnology,“ICTinHouseholdsReportfor2015,”p45[inArabic],http://moict.gov.jo/uploads/studies/househelds/home%202015.pdf.6 JordanTimes,“Gov’traisesminimumwage,hikestaxesontobacco,telecomservices,”February9,2017,http://bit.ly/2ltIPqH.7 ZainJordan,“PostpainBroadband,”http://bit.ly/1yw0qCx.8 ZainJordan,“MobileInternetPlans,”http://bit.ly/1lK3m95.9 JacobPoushter,“InternetAccessGrowingWorldwidebutRemainsHigherinAdvancedEconomies,”PewResearchCenter,February22,2016,http://pewrsr.ch/1TwX4H2.

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Restrictions on Connectivity Methodology questions and scoring

StartingJune2015,theJordaniangovernmentorderedinternetserviceproviderstoblockaccesstoWhatsApp,Instagram,andViberondaysthatsecondaryschoolstudentssatfortheirnationalexam(Tawhiji).10Multipleusersreportedtheblockcontinuedtobeeffectiv duringexamsinboth2016and2017,eventhoughtherestrictionsweredelimitedtolocationsnearbyexaminationhallsandlimitedtoacoupleofhours.

InMarch2016,theTRCstoppedJordanianmobileoperators’attempttoimposefeesontheuseofVoIPservicesinordertoincreaseprofits 11However,theprovidersthenblockedusersfrommakingfreeorcheapphonecallsoverserviceslikeWhatsAppandViber.InJanuary2017,theMinistryofInformationandCommunicationsTechnology(MoICT)proposedanewmonthlyfeeofJOD2(US$2.8)forusersinordertounblockVoIP,12withrevenuessharedbetweenoperatorsandthegovernment.However,theproposedfeewasrejectedbytheCouncilofMinistersfollowingonlineprotests(see“DigitalActivism”).

WhilenootherrestrictionsonconnectivitywereseeninJordanoverthepastyear,thecentralizationoftheinternetbackboneinfrastructureremainsaconcern.Theincumbentoperator,OrangeJordan,hasadefactomonopolyontheinternationalgatewayandlocalbackbone,asotherprovidersutilizeOrange’scoppernetworkforlastmileconnectivity.13Nonetheless,overthepastfewyears,mostISPshaveinitiatedworkontheirownfiber-opti backbone.14Additionally,OrangeremainsthelandingpartyfortheFLAGFEAsubmarinecable,15theonlyEast-WestcabletolandinJordan.16Anumberofproviders,likeDamamaxandLinkDotNet,haveindependentinternationalconnectivity17whilenon-incumbentproviderVTelsignedanagreementtobethelandingpartyforapossibleconnectionoftheFLAGFALCONsubmarinecabletoAqaba.18

Internationalconnectivityisalsoprovidedviaterrestrialconnectionsfromneighbouringcountriesasanalternativetosubmarinecables.In2015,theRCN(RegionalCableNetwork)waslaunchedtoprovideahigh-capacityterrestrialfibe networkfromFujairahtoAmman,19anadditiontotheestablishedJADI(Jeddah-Amman-Damascus-Istanbul)link,inoperationsince2010.20

10 IbrahimMbaydeen,“ThegovernmentblocksTawjihiclassrooms’accesstothreeapplications”,[inArabic]Al-Ghad,June20,2015http://bit.ly/260JtOi.11 “NoChargesonOnlineCallingApps-TelecomCommission,”Jordan Times,March16,2016.http://bit.ly/2bywrkk.12 MohammadGhazal,“Gov’tmullingseveraloptionstoincreaserevenuesfromtelecomsector,”Jordan Times,January23,2017,http://bit.ly/2jMimE7.13 “JordanCountryCommercialGuide-InformationandCommunicationTechnology,”Export.gov,February28,2017,https://www.export.gov/article?id=Jordan-Information-and-Communication-Technology.14 NatalijaGelvanovska,MichelRogy,andCarloMariaRossotto,“BroadbandNetworksintheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica”,p162,WorldBank,January29,2014,https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/16680.15 OrangeJordanWholesale,“VoiceandDatasolutions,”accessedOctober14,2017,https://www.orange.jo/sites/wholesale/documents/pdf/ws_brochure.pdf.16 GlobalCloudXchange,“OurNetwork”,accessedonOctober14,2017,http://globalcloudxchange.com/our-network.17 DougMadory,“OrangeJordanGoesBlack”,DynBlog,August14,2012.https://dyn.com/blog/orange-jordan-goes-black.18 NatalijaGelvanovska,MichelRogy,andCarloMariaRossotto,“BroadbandNetworksintheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica”,p71,WorldBank,January29,2014,https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/16680.19 ZainJordan,“RCN(RegionalCableNetwork),NewTerrestrialrouteconnectingMEtoEurope,goeslive”,May10,2015,https://zain.com/en/press/rcn-regional-cable-network-new-terrestrial-route-c.20 OrangeJordan,“JeddahAmmanDamascusIstanbulNetwork(JADI)”,accessedonOctober14,2017.https://www.orange.jo/sites/wholesale/en/pages/jadi.aspx.

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ICT Market

Threeprovidershaveasimilarshareoftheinformationandcommunicationstechnology(ICT)market:Umniah(asubsidiaryofBatelcoBahrain),Zain,andJordanTelecom.21JordanTelecomis51percentownedbyFranceTelecom,withtheremainingsharesdividedbetweenJordan’sSocialSecurityCorporation,thearmedforces,andothers.AnattempttoaddafourthproviderwasblockedbyISPsinDecember2012.22

Afterrejectingtwointernationaloperators,theJordaniangovernmentawardedZainJordantherightstointroduce4G/LongTermEvolution(LTE)servicestothemarket,whichitlaunchedinFebruary2014.InJanuary2015,OrangeJordan(ownedbytheJordanTelecomGroup)wasawardedthesecond4GlicenseforUS$100million,23andlaterthatJune,thethird4GlicensewasgrantedtoUmniahforanequivalentprice.24InFebruary2017,FRiENDi,Jordan’sonlymobilevirtualnetworkoperatorandpartofVirginMobileMiddleEastandAfrica,suspendeditsoperationsduetolosses.25

Regulatory Bodies

TheTelecommunicationsRegulatoryCommission(TRC)isresponsibleforregulatingtheICTsector.ItisgovernedbytheTelecommunicationsLawanddefine asa“financiall andadministrativelyindependentjuridicalpersonality.”26Nonetheless,itisaccountabletotheMinistryofInformationandCommunicationTechnology(MoICT),whichwascreatedinApril2002todrivethecountry’sICTdevelopment.27TheTRC’sBoardofCommissionersanditschairmanareappointedbyaresolutionfromtheCouncilofMinistersbasedonanominationfromtheprimeminister.28TheICTsectorisregulatedunderLawNo.13of1995anditsamendment,LawNo.8of2002.Thelawendorsesfree-marketpoliciesandgovernslicensingandqualityassurance.29

InJanuary2017,TRCchairmanGhaziSalemAl-Jobor30blamedtelecomoperatorsforobstructingamendmentstotheTelecommunicationsLawthatwouldhaveallowedtheTRCtoobtaingreaterindependenceandauthority.31Onemonthearlier,membersofaparliamentaryfinanc committeecastdoubtonthepoweroftheTRCduetoitsinabilitytorequirethatISPsunblockVoIPservicesonpopularcommunicationapps(seeRestrictionsonConnectivity).32

21 MaiBarakat,“Jordanwillbechallenging,butafourthoperatormightfin elbowroomasamobilebroadbandprovider,”Ovum,February21,2013,http://bit.ly/1JBMhUg.22 Ghazzal,Mohammad,“OrangeJordanOpposesTRCPlan,”JordanTimes,December15,2012,accessedApril30,2013http://bit.ly/1ECBaO5.23 MohammadGhazal,“Orangelaunches4GinAmman,toexpandnationwidebyQ3,”JordanTimes,May26,2015,http://bit.ly/1eCIvRh.24 MohammadGhazal,“Umniahgranted4Glicence,”JordanTimes,June14,2015,http://bit.ly/2pBoUud.25 “FRiENDiJordansuspendsoperationsinKingdom,”JordanTimes,February12,2017,http://bit.ly/2poQHxn.26 TheTelecommunicationsRegulatoryCommissionofJordan,ChapterIII,http://bit.ly/1Mwi5QE.27 Information&CommunicationTechnologyAssociation-Jordan,“JordanICTSectorProfile, Slide10,accessedJuly5,2013,http://bit.ly/1V0uKKZ.28 TRC,TelecommunicationLawNo.(13)of1995,January10,1995,pg18,accessedJune26,2013,http://bit.ly/1KWfNtT.29 “Jordan,”inOneSocialNetworkWithARebelliousMessage,ArabicNetworkforHumanRightsInformation,2009,http://bit.ly/1V0uqvC.30 TRC,“BoardofCommissionersProfile, http://bit.ly/1LD3DRd.31 HaydarAlQammaz,“Al-Jobor:100milliondinarsexpectedrevenuesfrom«mobile»companies,”Al-Rai[InArabic],January10,2017.http://bit.ly/2i8H3Nt.32 MoutazAbuRumman,“MPAbuRummancalledontelecomcompaniestoreversethedecisiontoblockdigitalcommunicationserviceviaViberandWhatsapp,”[Facebookpost,InArabic],http://bit.ly/2gERhlZ.

Introduction

Obstacles to Access


Restrictions on Connectivity

ICT Market

Regulatory Bodies

Limits on Content


Content Removal


Digital Activism

Violations of User Rights

Legal Environment




Technical Attacks

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Limits on ContentAuthorities are increasingly using extralegal means to censor critical coverage. Several licensed news sites were blocked in murky circumstances and without transparent legal authorization. Self-censorship remains pervasive, particularly around the royal family and Islam, although digital activism made concrete gains over the past year.


Thepastyearwitnessedanalarminguptickinthenumberoflicensednewswebsitesbeingblocked,seeminglyforfailingtoadheretostricteditorialguidelines.OnAugust8,2016,theMediaCommissionblockednewssiteAmmanNet forninedays.Ostensibly,theblockingoccurredafterlawyerswiththecommissionreinterpretedlicensingregulationstobanoutletsthatarenotfullyownedbyJordanianindividualsorentities.However,theownersofthewebsitepointedtorecentpublicationofarticlesthatcriticizedtheGrandMuftiasthemainreasonfortheblockingorder.33

Inanothercase,alicensednewssitewasblockedwithoutanyapparentorder.Thesite,Kull al Urdun, wasblockedforamonthstartingJanuary13,2017afterpublishinganarticleonthedetentionoftheMohammedOtoom,aformergeneralwiththeGeneralIntelligenceDirectorateandcurrentpro-reformactivistinJordan’sMilitaryVeterans’Association(Tayyar).34Accordingtothewebsiteowner,KhaledMajali,theMediaCommissiondeniedissuinganyordertoblockthewebsite.35

InternetusersseparatelyreportedthattheInternetArchive,adigitallibrary,wasinaccessiblefromearly2016toearly2017.InanemailreceivedbytheInternetArchive,theMediaCommissionconfirme thatnoblockingorderhadbeenissuedbythemoranyotheroffici entity.36TheseinstancesevidenceanalarmingriseintheextralegalityandnontransparencyofJordaniancensorshiporders.Havinglittlesenseofwhytheirwebsiteisblockedandwhoorderedit,thereiseffectivel norecourseforwebsiteownerswhohavefoundtheirwebsitesblocked.

Officiall theblockingofnewswebsitesiscarriedoutaccordingtothePressandPublicationsLaw(PPL),amendedin2012,whichstipulatedthatnewswebsitesneedtoobtainalicensefromtheMediaCommissionorfaceblocking.Thelawalsorequiresanyelectronicpublicationthatpublishesdomesticorinternationalnews,pressreleases,orcommentstoregisterwiththeMinistryofCommerceandIndustry.Oneoftherequirementsforageneralnewswebsitetoobtainalicenseistohaveaneditor-in-chiefwhohasbeenamemberoftheJordanPressAssociation(JPA)foratleastfouryears.InJuly2014,theJPAlawwasamendedtoenablejournalistsinonlinemediatobecomemembers.Priortothat,journalistscouldonlybecomemembersiftheyunderwentaperiodof

“training”inan“officia mediaorganization.

AccordingtotheamendedPPL,anelectronicpublicationisdefine asanywebsite“withaspecifi webaddressontheInternetwhichprovidespublishingservices,includingnews,reports,

33 AmmanNet,“StatementissuedbyAmmanNetwebsite,”[InArabic],August18,2016,http://ar.ammannet.net/news/273208.34 Al-QudsAl-Arabi,“Jordanblocksawebsitebecauseofanewsarticleaboutthearrestofaretiredmilitary,”[InArabic],January21,2017,http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=663076.35 KhaledMajali,“ClosingofKullalUrdunisaNationalDuty,”KullalUrdun[InArabic],January21,2017,http://bit.ly/2pFw2DW36 ReemAl-Masri,“InJordan,the“InvisibleHand”BlocksInternetArchive,”,7iber,April10,2017,https://www.7iber.com/technology/the-invisible-hand-blocks-Internet-archive/.

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investigations,articles,andcomments,andchoosestobelistedinaspecialregistermaintainedattheDepartment,pursuanttoinstructionsissuedbytheMinisterforthispurpose.”37Articles48and49enabletheheadoftheMediaCommissiontoblockanywebsiteforfailingtoobtainalicenseor,morebroadly,forviolatingJordanianlaw.Formanyobservers,thelaw’sbroaddefinitio ofanewswebsiteincludesalmostallJordanianandinternationalwebsites,blogs,portals,andsocialnetworks.

Consequently,291newswebsiteswereblockedinJune2013oninstructionsfromtheheadoftheMediaCommission(thennamedthePressandPublicationsDepartment)afteranine-monthgraceperiod.Mosthavesinceappliedforalicensetogetunblocked.ByJune2014,therewere160licensedgeneralnewssitesand100specializedwebsites.Toobtainlicenses,mostgeneralnewswebsiteshirednewchiefeditorswhowerealreadyJPAmembers,aconcerningdevelopmentforindependentmediagiventhat64percentofJPAmembersworkingovernmentorgovernment-relatedmediaoutlets.38

Content Removal

The2012amendmentsofthePPLincreasedtheliabilityofintermediariesforcontentpostedonnewswebsites,placingreaders’commentsunderthesamerestrictionsasnormalnewscontent.Clause3ofArticle49statesthatboththeeditors-in-chiefandownersofonlinepublicationsarelegallyresponsibleforallcontentpostedtothesite,includingusercomments.39Moreover,websitesmustkeeparecordofallcommentsforsixmonthsafterinitialpublicationandrefrainfrompublishingany“untruthful”or“irrelevant”comments.40Asaresult,somenewswebsites,suchasJO24,stoppedallowingcommentsforalimitedperiodoftimeasanexpressionofprotest.41


Theoverwhelmingmajorityofjournalistscontinuetopracticeself-censorship,astheannualsurveyonmediafreedomsconductedbytheAmman-basedCenterforDefendingtheFreedomofJournalists(CDFJ)showed.Accordingtothecenter’s2016survey,astaggering94percentofjournalistssaidtheypracticedself-censorshipin2016.42Whenaskedabouttabootopics,95percentsaidtheyavoidedcriticizingthearmedforces,anincreaseoverpastyears,and91percentstatedtheyfearedcriticizingtheking,theroyalcourtandmembersoftheroyalfamily.Thejudicialsystem,triballeaders,andreligionarealsosensitivetopics.43

AccordingtotheCDFJsurvey,thepercentageofrespondentswhobelievedmediaprofessionalsavoideddiscussingsex-relatedtopicsin2016increaseddrastically,reaching84.2percent,thehighestlevelinsevenyears.Additionally,avoidanceofreligiousissuesinthelastyearincreasedby

37 JordanianMediaMonitor,AmendedPress&PublicationsLawNo.32of2012,August2013,http://bit.ly/1zqh8ig.38 SawsanZaideh,“TheJordanPressAssociation:AMonopolybyLaw”,7iber,February16,2015,http://bit.ly/1zhSXSw.39 JordanianMediaMonitor,AmendedPress&PublicationsLawNo.32of2012,August2013,http://bit.ly/1zqh8ig.40 JordanianMediaMonitor,AmendedPress&PublicationsLawNo.32of2012,August2013,http://bit.ly/1zqh8ig.41 InadiscussionabouttheimpactofwebsitelicensingandthePPL,publisherofnewswebsiteJO24BaselOkoursaidthattheystoppedallowingcommentsontheirwebsiteinprotestofthelawandtoprotecttheprivacyoftheirreaders.See”AnOpenMeetingat7ibertoDiscusstheStateofOnlineJournalismAftertheWebsiteRegistrationRequirement,”[inArabic],YouTubevideo,1:43:44,postedbyJordanDays,December8,2014,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjUkvuRcBlI.42 CenterforDefendingFreedomofJournalists,“ProhibitiononPublication:MediaFreedomStatusinJordan2016”,May2,201743 “DPPBringsDownMediaFreedominJordan,”Al-Araby Al-Jadeed,May3,2014,http://bit.ly/1Nd4opP.

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10percentagepointsto83.1percent.Thesurveypointedtogrowingthreatsfromviolentreligiousextremistsagainstjournalistsasthemaincause,inadditiontotheassassinationofwriterNahedHattarbyanextremistin2016.

Theonlineinformationlandscapecontinuestobelimitedbydirectbansonreportingoncertaintopics,especiallyatcriticalmoments.Forinstance,aftertheshootingofHattar,theStateSecurityCourtbannedallformsofpublicationregardingthecase,to“preservethesecrecyoftheinvestigationinthepublic’sinterest,”accordingtoacircularfromtheMediaCommission.44

Inthesecondhalfof2016,twogagorderslimitingindependentcoverageaboutthearmedforcesandthekingwereissued.OnSeptember1,allmediaoutletswerebannedfromreportingnewsaboutthekingandtheroyalfamily,unlessobtainedfromoffici bulletinsreleasedbytheRoyalHashemiteCourt.45OnNovember30,theMediaCommissionbannedpublicationofanyreportsabouttheJordanArmedForces,exceptforstatementsmadebyitsmediaspokesperson.Theordercoveredsocialmedianetworksandotherwebsites,supposedlyinthe“publicinterest.”46

FacebookandYouTubeareamongthetoptenvisitedwebsitesinJordan.47AsofApril2016,89percentofallsocialmediausersinJordanusedFacebook,while71percentusedWhatsApp.48InMarch2017,KingAbdullahlaunchedapersonalTwitteraccount.49Otherstateleadersandinstitutionshaveestablishedsocialmediachannelstocommunicatewiththepublic,liketheRoyalHashemiteCourt,50theCrownPrince,51andQueenRania,whohasmillionsoffollowersonTwitterandInstagram.52Forbes Middle Easthasdescribedheras“TheQueenofSocialMedia.”53

Digital Activism

Severalonlinecampaignscalledforboycottingdifferen goodsinprotestagainstrecenteconomicpoliciesin2017.InFebruary,theMinistryofInformationandCommunicationsTechnologysuggestedimposingamonthlyfeeontheuseofseveralmessagingapps,includingViberandWhatsApp,spurringanonlinecampaignnamed“Sakker Khattak”(Shutoffyourphoneline).Campaignerscalledcitizenstoboycotttelecommunicationcompaniesforhalfaday,54theNationalSocietyforConsumerProtection(NSCP)askedthegovernmenttolookforalternatives,55andthe

44 “GagorderbanscoverageofJordanianwriternews,”JordanNewsAgency(Petra),September26,2016,http://bit.ly/2qts300.45 “AmmanbansindependentcoverageofJordan’sroyalfamily,”Middle East Eye,September1,2016,http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jordan-bans-media-publishing-about-royal-family-531467385.46 “Gagorderbanspublicationofarmynews,”JordanNewsAgency(Petra),November30,2016,http://bit.ly/2qGNI1a.47 Alexa,“TopSitesinJordan,”accessedonMay2,2017,http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/JO.48 “Facebook,WhatsAppOvershadowTwitterinJordan’sSocialMediaSphere,”Jordan Times,April13,2016,http://bit.ly/2bBODMQ.49 KingAbdullahIIOffici Website,“KinglaunchespersonalTwitteraccount,”March26,2017,https://kingabdullah.jo/en/news/king-launches-personal-twitter-account.50 RoyalHashemiteCourtInstagramPage,http://instagram.com/rhcjo.51 KingAbudullahIIBinAlHusseinInstagramPage,http://instagram.com/alhusseinbinabdullahii.52 QueenRaniaAlAbdullahTwitterPage,https://twitter.com/QueenRania;QueenRaniaAlAbdullahInstagram,http://bit.ly/1iVLx62.53 AbderrahimEtouil,“QueenofSocialMedia,”Forbes Middle East,July1,2011,http://bit.ly/1KMPUv0.54 “Jordanarrestsorganiserofphoneboycottcampaign,”Middle East Eye,February2,2017,http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jordan-arrests-man-organizing-social-media-boycott-campaign-292971702.55 “NSCPcallsonthegovernmenttomoveawayfromcitizen’spocket,”[inArabic],al-Ghad,January24,2017,http://bit.ly/2p9O6UP.

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JordanOpenSourceAssociation(JOSA)calledonthegovernmenttorespectnetneutralityanduserrights.56

AlsoinFebruary,theFacebookgroup“JordanianBoycottCampaign,”whichcalledforaboycottofeggsandpotatoesduetopriceincreases,gatheredmorethan1.3millionfollowers.57Consumptionofeggsdroppedby15percentandpricesweresubsequentlyloweredtopre-boycottlevels,whileapriceceilingwasimposedbythegovernment.58Anotherboycottcampaignwasstartedbysocialmediaactivistswhourgedmotoristsnottorefueltheircarstoprotestagainstgaspricehikes.59

InOctober2016,acoalitionofactivistsandcivilsocietyorganizedaprotestconsideredtobethelargestsince2012.Demonstratorsdemandedthecancellationofagasdealbetweenthestate-ownedNationalElectricPowerCompany(NEPCO)andsuppliersofIsraeligas.60Forseveralweeks,campaignorganizerscalledforparticipantstoshutoffpowerinperiodichour-longblackouts.Picturesofdarkenedorcandle-lighttownsfloode socialmedia,whiletheArabichashtagsusedbythecampaign,whichtranslateas“theenemy’sgasisoccupation,”and“switchoffthelights,”weretrendingintheJordanianTwittersphere.61

Violations of User RightsSeveral journalists were arrested for their online activities under a problematic cybersecurity law. The intelligence bureau detained a group of teachers, former security officials, and activists for almost one month due to social media posts that were critical of the bureau’s handling of a terrorist attack. A religious extremist assassinated Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar as he was due to face trial for inciting sectarianism over a cartoon mocking the so-called Islamic State. In the aftermath, several users were arrested for hate speech and extremism. Also, the state-owned news agency was hacked in order to post false news regarding Saudi’s deputy crown prince.

Legal Environment

AlthoughJordan’sconstitutioncontainssometheoreticalprotectionsforfreespeechonline,inpractice,severallawscontaindisproportionateorunnecessaryrestrictions.Jordan’spenalcodeforbidsanyinsultoftheroyalfamily,stateinstitutions,nationalsymbols,foreignstates,and“anywritingorspeechthataimsatorresultsincausingsectarianorracialstrife.”Defamationisalsoacriminaloffense 62

56 JordanOpenSourceAssociation,“TheJordanOpenSourceAssociationwarnsagainstimposingfeesonmessagingapps,”[inArabic],January23,2017,http://opinions.jordanopensource.org/post/102.57 RanaHusseini,“OneofadministratorsofFacebookpagecallingforboycottsdetained,”Jordan Times,http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/one-administrators-facebook-page-calling-boycotts-detained.58 ZaidAd-Dabisiyah,“ThePotatoRevolutionmotivatesJordanianstoexpandtheboycottofhigh-pricedgoods,”al-Araby al-Jadeed[inArabic],February1,2017.59 HanaNamrouqa,“Socialmediaactivistsurgingweekendfuelboycott,”Jordan Times,February2,2017,http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/social-media-activists-urging-weekend-fuel-boycott%E2%80%99.60 ZenaTahhan,“Jordaniansreject‘stolengas’inIsrael-Jordandeal,”AlJazeera,October3,2016,http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/jordanians-reject-stolen-gas-israel-jordan-deal-161002131442112.html.61 AmiraHoweidy,“Theenemy’sgasisoccupation,”Ahram Weekly,Issue1315,October13-19,2016,http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/17545.aspx.62 HumanRightsWatch,“Jordan:APoeticSecurityThreat,”September3,2010,https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/09/03/jordan-poetic-security-threat.

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SeveralconstitutionalamendmentsintroducedinSeptember2011directlyorindirectlytouchedoninternetfreedom.Specifically termssuchas“massmedia”and“othermeansofcommunication,”whichlikelyencompassonlinemedia,wereaddedtoprovisionsthatprotectfreedomofexpressionandconcomitantlyallowforitslimitationduringstatesofemergency(Article15).Withregardtotherighttoprivacy,judicialapprovalwasaddedasapreconditionforcensorshiporconfiscatio ofprivatecommunications(Article18).63DespitethepassageoftheAccesstoInformationLawin2007,anumberofrestrictionsremainonrequestingsensitivesocialandreligiouscontent.64

InJanuary2017,thegovernmentcalledfortheadoptionofa“socialmedialaw”tolimithatespeechandincitementonline,65andinSeptember2017suggestedaseriesofamendmentstothecybercrimelawtoexplicitlycoverhatespeech,define as“anystatementoractthatwouldincitediscord,religious,sectarian,ethnicorregionalstrifeordiscriminationbetweenindividualsorgroups.”66An“internetpolice”unitwaslaunchedtofigh cybercrime,includingonlineactivitiesthatcouldfomentsectarianorreligiousstrife,acriminaloffens inJordan.67

InJune2015,theamendedCybercrimeLawNo27cameintoeffec withatleastoneprovisionthatposesaseriousthreattoonlinefreedom.AccordingtoArticle11,internetuserscanfaceajailtermofnolessthanthreemonthsandamaximumfin ofJOD2,000(US$2,800),iftheyarefoundguiltyofdefamationonsocialmediaoronlinemediaoutlets.Inpracticalterms,thismeansjournalistsfaceharsherpenaltiesonlinethaninprintmedia,sincethePressandPublicationsLawprohibitsthejailingofjournalists.In2015,theLawInterpretationBureauissuedarulingthatArticle11supersedesotherlegislation,renderingjournalists’immunitythatissafeguardedbythePressandPublicationsLawirrelevant.68Thus,journalistsmaynowbetriedforprintarticlesifthosearticlesappearonline.69InMarch2016,agroupofjournalistsandactivistslaunchedacampaign,titled

“TalkingIsNotaCrime,”callingArticle11“unconstitutional”asitunderminesfreedomofexpressionassafeguardedbytheJordanianconstitution.70AccordingtotheCenterforDefendingFreedomofJournalists,atleastsevenjournalistsandactivistsweredetainedinthefirs yearafterthepassageoftheamendment.71

Manyolderlawscontinuetoposeathreattoaccesstoinformationandfreeexpressiononline.Theseincludethe1959ContemptofCourtLaw,the1960penalcode,the1971ProtectionofStateSecretsandClassifie DocumentsLaw,the1992DefenseLaw,the1998JordanPressAssociationLaw,andthe1999PressandPublicationsLaw.

AmendmentstothePressandPublicationLawenactedin2010abolishedprisonsentencesforlibelagainstprivatecitizens(asopposedtopublicofficials However,fine andjailsentencesremainfor

63 ConstitutionofJordan,January1,1952,http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html.64 Forexample,thelawbarspublicrequestsforinformationinvolvingreligious,racial,ethnic,orgenderdiscrimination(Article10),andallowsofficia towithholdalltypesofclassifie information,averybroadcategory(Article13)see,ArabArchivesInstitute,“SummaryoftheStudyonAccesstoInformationLawinJordan,”June2005,http://www.alarcheef.com/reports/englishFiles/accessToInformation.pdf.65 SuzannaGoussous,“Lawtocombathatespeechcouldharmfreedomofexpression,activistswarn,”Jordan Times,January9,2017,http://bit.ly/2qd4rbS.66 AbdulRazzaqAbuHazeem,“AmendmentstoCyber-crimeLawIncludedefinitio ofhatespeech”,Al-Rai,[inArabic],September29,2017,http://bit.ly/2hIB5jA.67 “PoliceLaunchOnlinePatrols,”[inArabic],al-Ghad,November26,2016,http://bit.ly/2rLYaFb.68 InternationalPressInstitute,“Jordan’sOnlineMediaatstake”,2015,http://bit.ly/1SCa4qQ.69 DaoudKuttab,“LosingtheArabSpringaccomplishments?,”Jordan Times,March9,2016,http://bit.ly/1oXWIgS.70 “Jordan:TalkingisNotaCrime..ACampaigntoRepealArticle11ofCybercrimeLaw”,Al Araby Al Jadeed[inArabic],March5,2016http://bit.ly/1T4jjTR.71 MaherShwabkeh,“aCampaigninJordantoProtectFreedoms”,[inArabic],Al Hayat,April3,2016,http://bit.ly/1WrZ5Gl.

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defaminggovernmentofficial withpenaltiestouptoJOD10,000(US$14,000)and3to12months’imprisonment.72Furtheramendmentspassedin2012bannedthepublicationof“materialthatisinconsistentwiththeprinciplesoffreedom,nationalobligation,humanrights,andArab-Islamicvalues.”73Article38ofthePPLalsoprohibitsany“contempt,slander,ordefamationoforabuseof”religionsorprophets.Thesamearticleprohibitsthepublicationofanymaterialthatisdefamatoryorslanderousofpublicofficial whoarealsoprotectedbythesamelawagainst“rumors”and

“anythingthathinderstheirpersonalfreedom.”74Journalists,websiteowners,andeditors-in-chieffaceafin ofJOD5,000(US$7,500)iffoundtoviolatethelaw.Inaddition,civildefamationsuitsagainstprivateindividualscanresultinfine ofbetweenJOD500to1,000(US$700to1,400).75

Inearly2014,alawwaspassedtolimitthepowersofthequasi-militaryStateSecurityCourt,toterrorism,espionage,drugfelonies,treason,andcurrencycounterfeiting.Thecourthadpreviouslytriedcitizensandjournalistsforcrimesrelatedtofreedomofexpression.76Worryingly,amendmentstoanantiterrorismlawpassedinmid-2014essentiallyreversedthatmovebyexpandingthedefinitio of“terrorism”toincludebroaderoffenses 77Inadditiontomorelegitimateoffense suchasattackingmembersoftheroyalcourtorprovokingan“armedrebellion,”thedefinitio ofterroristactivitiesnowincludesanyactsthat“threatenthecountry’srelationstoforeignstatesorexposethecountryoritscitizenstoretaliatoryactsonthemortheirmoney,”anoffens thathadalreadybeenlistedinthepenalcode.78ThelawalsoexplicitlypenalizestheuseofICTstopromote,support,orfundterroristacts,ortosubject“Jordaniansortheirpropertytodangerofhostileactsoractsofrevenge.”79


Arrestsandprosecutionsforonlineactivitiesincreasedduringthecoverageperiod.ZiadNeserat,80MuhammadQaddah,81andseveralotherjournalistswerearrestedondefamationchargesrelatedtoFacebookpostsunderthecybercrimelaw,whileagroupofindividualsweredetainedforcriticizingtheintelligenceservices.

InAugust2016,prominentleftistwriterNahedHattarwasarrestedaftersharingacartoonofunknownauthorshiponFacebookthatwasdeemedoffensiv toIslam.Thecartoonfeaturesa“beardedmaninheaven,smokingandinbedwithwomen,askingGodtobringhimwineandcashews.”82PrimeMinisterHaniMulkiorderedtheInteriorMinistertoinvestigatecomplaintsabout

72 JordanMediaStrengtheningProgram,IntroductiontoNewsMediaLawandPolicyinJordan,May2011,pg38,http://bit.ly/1F79kKt.73 ThePressandPublicationsLaw1998amendedbyLawNo.32.74 Lawnumber(32)2012.AmendmentstoThePressandPublicationslawfortheYear1998(8),Article38,clausesA,B,C&D.75 ThePressandPublicationsLaw1998amendedbyLawNo.32.76 HumanRightsWatch,“Jordan:EndTrialsofPersecutorsUnderminingRegime,”October29,2013,http://bit.ly/1hEq94a.77 HumanRightsWatch“Jordan:TerrorismAmendmentsThreatenRights,”May,17,2014,http://bit.ly/Rhgpzz,and“RoyalEndorsementofAnti-TerrorismLaw,”[inArabic]GerasaNews,June1,2014,http://bit.ly/1N5YSnh.78 Anti-Terrorismlaw–No182014Article3(b),http://bit.ly/1trDOKp.79 ReportersWithoutBorders,“Kingurgedtorepealdraconianchangestoanti-terrorismlaw,”June16,2014,http://bit.ly/1UvoACc.80 SkeyesMedia,“JordanianpolicearrestsjournalistZiadNeseratatairportforpublicationcase,”December10,2016,http://www.skeyesmedia.org/ar/News/Jordan/6162.81 “ArrestofjournalistMohammedQaddahinMarkaPrison,”AmmanNet,December26,2016,http://ar.ammannet.net/news/278469.82 MohammadGhazal,“Writerturnshimselfinaftercartoonsparksoutrage,”Jordan Times,August13,2016,http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/writer-turns-himself-after-cartoon-sparks-outrage.

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theimage.Thegovernment-runIftaDepartment,whichisresponsibleforissuingreligiousedicts,alsopublishedastatementcondemninganygroupthatinsultsIslam,religioussymbols,anddivinity.Hattar,aChristian,laterapologizedonFacebookandclarifie thatthecartoonwasmeanttomocktheso-calledIslamicState(ISorDaesh)andtheirvisionofGod,ratherthanIslam.Article150ofthepenalcodebanscontemptforreligion.

Onemonthlater,Hattarwasshotdeadbyanextremistoutsidethecourtwherehewasduetoappear(seeIntimidationandViolence).Hisfamilyblamedthegovernmentforfailingtoprosecuteextremistswhohadcalledforhiskillingonsocialmediaunderlawsthatbanincitingviolence.83

Severalarrestsforonlinehatespeechfollowed;manyappearedtoinvolveviolentthreats.84Sixteenpeoplewerearrestedaftertheassassination,includingindividualswhousedsocialmediatospreadsectarianismandhatespeech,accordingtoapolicestatement.Butonlineabuseregardingthecasecontinued.Asocialmediapagewasstartedcallingforthereleaseofthemurderer,85andextremistscontinuedtosendmessagesencouragingviolenceonWhatsApp,aviolationofArticle20(2)oftheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,towhichJordanisasignatory.86AtleastthreemorewerearrestedinOctober.87

Otherdetentionsforonlinespeechwerereportedduringthecoverageperiod,includingsomeinvolvingcriticismofthegovernment.TheGeneralIntelligenceDirectorate(GIDormukhabarat)arrestedbetween18and20individualsinJanuary2017onchargesoflèse majestéand“incitementtounderminethepoliticalregimeofJordanusingsocialmedia”forpostingantigovernmentstatementsonline,accordingtotheirlawyers.Thegroupincludedretiredarmyandintelligencegenerals,amemberoftheMuslimBrotherhoodoppositiongroup,and10membersofateachers’syndicate.Accordingtotheirlawyers,theaccusedcriticizedthegovernmentresponsetoaterroristattackinthetownofKarakandsomecalledforthefirin oftheheadoftheGID.88TheindividualsweredetainedfornearlyonemonthandweresettobetriedbytheStateSecurityCourt(SSC).Afterpressurefromfamilymembersandsupportersoftheaccused,theywerereleasedwithoutchargeinFebruary.89

Atleastonejournalistwasdetainedinrelationtoanallegedlydefamatorypostonsocialmedia.AfteracomplaintbyZakiBaniIrsheid,aleaderoftheMuslimBrotherhood,journalistAmjadMuallawasdetainedonJanuary30,2017;hewasreleasedonbailinmid-February.90Accordingtoreports,hepublishedaFacebookpostaccusingBaniIrsheidofpromotingIS’policiesandrepresenting

83 PeterBeaumont,“JordanianwritershotdeadashearrivesattrialforinsultingIslam,”The Guardian,September25,2016,http://bit.ly/2dqWif5.84 HasanShobaki,“Jordanpursues“instigators”insocialnetworkingplatforms,”[InArabic]AlJazeera,http://bit.ly/2duASQa.85 RanaHusseini,“Policecontinuecrackdownonhatespeechonline,”Jordan Times,September29,2016,http://jordantimes.com/news/local/police-continue-crackdown-hate-speech-online.86 Article20(2)states:“Anyadvocacyofnational,racialorreligioushatredthatconstitutesincitementtodiscrimination,hostilityorviolenceshallbeprohibitedbylaw.”SeeInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,UnitedNationsOffi oftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights,http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx.87 GeneralSecurityDepartment,“CybercrimeUnitarrestsanumberofprovokersonsocialmedia,”[InArabic],October5,2016,http://bit.ly/2pLgrmg.88 AliYounes,“Jordancracksdownonactivistsoversocialmediaposts,”AlJazeera,January18,2017,http://bit.ly/2jDa0AJ.89 AliYounes,“Jordanianactivistsreleasedafterspyagencycrackdown,”AlJazeeraEnglish,February8,2017,http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/jordanian-activists-released-spy-agency-crackdown-170208115912801.html.90 RanaHusseini,“Journalistbailed,awaitingtrialfor‘slander’oftopBrotherhoodofficial Jordan Times,February15,2017,http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/journalist-bailed-awaiting-trial-slander%E2%80%99-top-brotherhood-offici .

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thewali(deputy)oftheISleaderinJordan.MuallastatedthemovewaspartoftheMuslimBrotherhood’spolicyofsilencingjournalistswhoopposetheirviews.91

OnJanuary31,2017,EssamZabin,aretiredlieutenant-colonelintheairforceandoneoftheadministratorsofaFacebookgroupthatcalledforboycottinggoodstoprotestpricehikes,wasalsodetainedbytheGID.92Hewasheldinprisonforoneweekbeforebeingreleasedwithoutcharge.93

InJanuary2017,12individualswereprosecutedandfourothersinvestigatedforonlinehatespeechafteraterroristattackonanIstanbulnightclubonNewYear’sEve,duringwhichtwoJordanianswerekilled.94Findingthatthecaserelatedtolibelofprivatepersonsandnotterrorism,theSSCreferredthecasetoacivilprosecutorasaviolationofArticle11ofthecybercrimelaw.95

InOctober2016,onememberoftheJordanianTeachers’SyndicateinJerashwasdetainedforpublishingapostonFacebookinwhichheexpressedhisrefusaltoimplementchangestotheschoolcurriculumdespiteacomplaintfile bytheMinisterofEducation.96Hewasreleasedonbailonthesameday.

ZainKarazon,apopularsingerandsocialmediafigure wasarrestedinSeptember2016attheAmmanairportasshereturnedfromoverseas.ShewasaccusedofslanderforaSnapchatvideoinwhichsherespondedtohercritics“inaninappropriatemanner,”accordingtoreports.97Karazon’ssistersaidthesingerwasharassedonlineafterexposingmalpracticeatalocalhospital.Shewasreleasedoneweeklater.

Similartomonitoringhatespeech,JordanianauthoritiescontinuetomonitortheonlineactivitiesofISsupporters.Severalindividuals,including98women,99havebeenarrested100andinsomecasessentencedtoprisonforpromotingorsupportingtheterroristorganizationthroughsocialmediapostsorinprivateelectronicmessages.101Therewerenoindicationsanyoftheseindividualshadbeentargetedforspeechnormallyprotectedunderinternationalnorms.


Article18oftheconstitutionprotectstherighttoprivacy,butallowsforsurveillance“byajudicial

91 SaharAl-Qasem,“DetentionofjournalistAmjadMaallaonchargesofinsultingtheBaniIrsheid,”AmmonNews,January30,2017,http://www.ammonnews.net/article/298852.92 “Jordanarrestsorganiserofphoneboycottcampaign,”Middle East Eye,February2,2017,http://bit.ly/2kqbPPS.93 “Nassar:Secretservicesreleasethecreatoroftheboycottpage,EssamZabin”[inArabic],AmmanNet,February2,2017,http://ar.ammannet.net/news/281346.94 “Jordantocharge12inonlineabuseofTurkeyattackvictims,”AssociatedPress,January6,2017,http://apne.ws/2qyuC0U.95 “Hatespeechsuspectstobetriedbeforecivilcourt,”Jordan Times,January9,2017,http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/hate-speech-suspects-be-tried-civil-court.96 JordanTeachers’Syndicate,“SecurityforcesarrestateacherinJerashbecauseofaFacebookpost,”October19,2016,http://bit.ly/2pL21m3.97 RanaHusseini,“SisterofJordaniansingerdetainedovervideopostedonsocialmedia,”Jordan Times,September24,2016,http://bit.ly/2pe5TLr.98 “FirstallegedfemaleDaeshsupporterontrial,”Jordan Times,April19,2017,http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/firstalleged-female-daesh-supporter-trial.99 “SecurityCourtlooksatcaseofaladyandagirlwhopromotedDaesh,”[InArabic],Al-Ghad,May3,2017,http://bit.ly/2pQzGNq.100 “SecurityCourtlooksatcaseoffemaleDaeshsupporter,”[InArabic],JordanNewsAgency(Petra),April26,2017,http://bit.ly/2pM1su0.101 “Courtjailssixoverterrorcharges,”Jordan Times,March1,2017,http://jordantimes.com/news/local/court-jails-six-over-terror-charges.

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orderinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthelaw.”Thetelecommunicationlawrequiresthatoperatorstakeappropriatemeasurestoallowforthetrackingofcommunicationuponajudicialoradministrativeorder,whileanantiterrorismlawallowsfortheprosecutorgeneraltoordersurveillanceuponreceiving“reliableinformation…apersonorgroupofpersonsisconnectedtoanyterroristactivity.”102

Jordancurrentlylacksaprivacylaw.TheMinistryofInformationandCommunicationTechnology(MoICT)iscurrentlydraftingaDataProtectionLawthataimstoregulatehowpersonaldataarecollected,usedandpublished.Thelastdraftofthelaw,however,doesnotensuretheindependenceoftheproposedDataProtectionAuthority(DPA)anddoesnotalwaysfollowbestinternationalstandardsforprotectionofpersonaldata.

TherehavebeennoreportsaboutrestrictionsonVPNsandothercircumventiontools,noranylimitsonencryption.However,manyJordaniansreportedlyhavealong-standingbeliefthat“someoneislisteningin”totheirphonecalls.Thisattitudehascarriedovertotheinternet,whereitisbelievedthatsecurityservicescloselymonitoronlinecomments,catalogingthembydate,internetprotocol(IP)address,andlocation.103

Sincemid-2010,cybercafeshavebeenobligedtoinstallsecuritycamerastomonitorcustomers,whomustsupplypersonalidentificatio informationbeforetheyusetheinternet.Cafeownersarerequiredtoretainthebrowsinghistoryofusersforatleastsixmonths.104Authoritiesclaimtheserestrictionsarenecessaryforsecurityreasons.Althoughenforcementissomewhatlax,theonce-thrivingcybercafebusinessisnowindeclinedueinparttotherestrictions,aswellasincreasedaccesstopersonalinternetconnections.AccordingtoareportbyPrivacyInternational,representativesfromvariousintelligenceandgovernmentministriesregularlyinspectinternetcafesforcompliance.Internetcafesarebylawrequired“totakeallproceduresandarrangements”toensurecustomersarenotaccessingterrorist-relatedmaterial,withoutspecifyingwhattypesofactionswouldbelegallypermissible.Furthermore,clauseswithinmobilephonecontractsgiveJordaniancompaniestherighttoterminateservicesshouldcustomersuseitinanyway“threateningtopublicmoralornationalsecurity.”105


OnSeptember25,2016,JordanianwriterNahedHattarwasshotdeadoutsideofacourthouseinAmman,wherehewasduetofacetrialforpostingasatiricalcartoondeemed“offensiv toIslam”onhisFacebookpage(See“ProsecutionsandDetentionsforOnlineActivities”).106Hattar,aChristianwhohadexpressedhissupportforSyrianpresidentBasharal-Assad,explainedthecartoon

102 PrivacyInternational,“StateofPrivacyJordan,”June28,2017,https://www.privacyinternational.org/node/973.103 InformationandResearchCenteratKingHusseinFoundation&7iber,“DigitalPrivacyinJordan:PerceptionsandImplicationsamongHumanRightsActors”,2015http://bit.ly/1WrGA51.104 InternationalFreedomofExpressionExchange,“Cybercrimelawattacksfreeexpression;Internetcafésmonitored,”newsrelease,August18,2010,http://www.ifex.org/jordan/2010/08/18/cyber_cafe/;“InteriorrequiresInternetcafestoinstallsurveillancecamerasandkeepInternetvisitsformonths”[inArabic],Saraya News,June3,2010,http://www.sarayanews.com/object-article/view/id/23211.105 EyeonMedia,“DecliningFreedom,RestrictionsontheInternetandaFinancialCrisis,”December25,2013,http://bit.ly/1KN2GcQ.106 “Writerturnshimselfinaftercartoonsparksoutrage,”Jordan Times,August13,2016,http://bit.ly/2bfjr2d.

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“mocksterroristsandtheirconceptofGodandheaven.”107ThousandsofJordaniansexpressedtheirsolidaritywithHattar’sfamily,demandinganendtohatespeechandincitementtoviolenceonline.

Journalistsareregularlysubjecttoharassmentfromstateandnonstateactors,particularlywheninvestigatingcorruption.Forexample,afterjournalistAmalGhabayenpublishedanarticleononeofthecountry’smostpopularnewswebsites,Ammon News,regardingtheallegedappropriationofastate-ownedpieceoflandinWestAmmanbyahigh-rankingoffici inthearmy,shewasthreatenedbyphoneandtold“shewillpay”forthearticle.Shefle JordanandwasgrantedpoliticalasyluminTurkey.108Onlinejournalistsreportingonprotestsarealsointimidatedbysecurityforces.Apoliceoffic threatenedtobreakthecellphoneofDanaGibreel,ajournalistfrom7iber,inNovember2016duringasit-inagainstagasagreementwithIsrael.109

Technical Attacks questions and scoring

Incidentsofcyberattacksagainstbloggersandstaffofonlinenewswebsiteshavedecreasedinseveritycomparedtopreviousyears.However,geopoliticaltensionshaveresultedinthehackingofstatenewssites.InJune2016,thestate-ownednewsagency,Petra,confirme theirwebsitewasaffecte byacyberattack.110HackerspostedafabricatednewsstoryregardingthedeputycrownprinceofSaudiArabia.Officia claimedIranianhackerswerebehindtheattack.111

InFebruary2011Ammon News, washackedandtemporarilydisabledafteritseditorsrefusedtocomplywithsecurityagents’demandstoremoveastatementby36prominentJordaniantribesmen,inwhichtheycalledfordemocraticandeconomicreforms.Amongotheractions,thehackersdeletedthejointstatement,whichwerepoliticallysensitivegiventhegroups’historicsupportforthemonarchy.112In2012,thewebpagesofthenewssitesKhaberniandAl Ainwerehacked;thesiteoftheJordanianrapgroupAhatwasalsohackedonSeptember15,2012.113

107 “Jordan:NahedHattarshotdeadaheadofcartoontrial,”AlJazeera,September26,2016,http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/jordan-nahed-hattar-shot-dead-cartoon-trial-160925080745317.html.108 AliAl-SunaidMP,“ThesecretbehindtherequestofpoliticalasylumbyjournalistAmalGhabayen,”JO24,May23,2016,http://www.jo24.net/post.php?id=170919.109 “Condemnationrelatedtoarrestsofparticipantsinasit-inagainstthegasagreement,”[inArabic],AmmanNet,November12,2016,http://ar.ammannet.net/news/276607.110 “StatementbyJordanNewsAgency(Petra),”JordanNewsAgency(Petra),June13,2016,http://bit.ly/21jdDrL.111 “Petranewsagencyhacked,attributesfalsecommentstoSaudiPrince,”AlArabiyaEnglish,June14,2016,http://bit.ly/2ps5KTW.112 CommitteetoProtectJournalists,“InJordan,websitehackedafterrunningsensitivestatement,”February9,2011,http://cpj.org/x/416b.113 SkeyesCenterforMediaandCulturalFreedom,PressandCulturalFreedominLebanon,Syria,JordanandPalestine–AnnualReport2012,2013,http://foundationforfuture.org/en/Portals/0/Grantees%20Publications/SKeyes%202012%20Annual%20Report%20EN.pdf.

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