Jordan to criminalize VPNs and internet freedoms under new cybercrime law
Internet freedoms are at risk in Jordan under a new proposed cybercrime law. Among other things, the bill plans to criminalize the use of VPN services (in some scenarios) while giving authorities sweeping new powers to censor content online, throttle websites, and block social media.
The 41-article bill comes as a way to “tackle disinformation, hate speech and online defamation,” said the government. It will replace the current legislation’s 15 provisions enforced since 2015. The Parliamentary Legal Committee approved the draft with no substantial changes on July 25—digital rights watchdog Jordan Open Source Association (JOSA) reported.
Activists, civil societies, and journalists in and out the country are now calling Jordan policymakers to scrap the draconian law as it “will strongly undermine digital rights.” At the same time, also the US government expressed its concerns for people’s free speech and Jordan’s technology sector growth.
“A dark prospect of Jordan’s civic space”
“The draft legislation will jeopardize digital rights, including freedom of expression and the right to information, and will ultimately fail in achieving the Jordanian government’s stated goals of tackling disinformation, hate speech, and online defamation,” reads the open letter signed by 14 civil societies across the world, including Access Now, ARTICLE 19 and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
“Given Jordan’s judicial system lacks independence and is frequently used to prosecute human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and political opponents, this law offers a dark prospect of Jordan’s civic space.”
Jordan has a bad track record when it comes to persecuting political dissidents and protecting civil rights. Last year’s Freedom of the Net report labeled the internet in the country “partly free” due to widespread restrictions and state surveillance practices.
Digital rights advocates are especially worried for the broad language and vaguely defined terms present throughout the draft. Examples include undefined terminology such as fake news, promoting, instigating, aiding, or inciting immorality, online assassination of personality, provoking strife, undermining national unity, and contempt for…
