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Key Developments: June 2014 – May 2015
● TheMediaCommissioncontinuedtoblocknewswebsitesthatwereoperatingwithoutagovernmentlicenseasrequiredbytheamendmentstothePressandPublicationsLawpassedinSeptember2012.Chargeswerealsopressedagainstwebsitesoperatingwithoutalicense(seeBlocking and Filtering).
● Twolicensednewswebsites,Al-Kawn NewsandSaraya News,wereblockedinDecember2014andJanuary2015,respectively,forpublishingcontentrelatedtotheJordanianpilotMoathAl-KasasbehwhofellcaptiveinthehandsofIslamicStatefighters(seeBlocking and Filtering).
● OnJanuary28,2015,twostaffatSaraya News weredetainedfor40daysandchargedbytheStateSecurityCourtprosecutorundertheamendedantiterrorismlaw(see Prosecu-tions and Detentions for Online Activities).
● ZakiBaniIrshaid,deputyleaderoftheMuslimBrotherhoodinJordan,wasarrestedinNovember2014andchargedwith“harmingJordan’stieswithafriendlystate”foraposthepublishedonhisFacebookprofilecriticizingtheUAE.OnFebruary14,2015hewassentencedto1.5yearsinprison.TwootheractivistsaffiliatedwiththeBrotherhoodweredetainedforFacebookcomments(seeProsecutions and Detentions for Online Activities).
● OnMarch11,2015,themilitaryattorneygeneralaskedtheprimeministertoliftparlia-mentaryimmunityfromMemberofParliamentTarekKhouryinordertoputhimontrialfor“incitingtounderminetheregime.”HehadpostedcommentscriticalofJordan’srela-tionshipwithIsraelonhisFacebookpage(seeProsecutions and Detentions for Online Activities).
Jordan2014 2015
Internet Freedom Status Partly Free
Partly Free
ObstaclestoAccess(0-25) 12 12
LimitsonContent(0-35) 15 16
ViolationsofUserRights(0-40) 21 22
TOTAL* (0-100) 48 50
* 0=most free, 100=least free
Population: 7.6 million
Internet Penetration 2014: 44 percent
Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: No
Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes
Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes
Press Freedom 2015 Status: Not Free
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Introduction
InternetfreedomconditionsinJordandeclinedoverthepastyear.InApril2014,amendmentstotheantiterrorismlawwerepassed,broadeningthedefinitionofterrorismtoincludeactsthat“couldthreatenthecountry’srelationstoforeignstatesorexposethecountryoritscitizenstoretaliatoryactsonthemortheirmoney,”anoffensethathadalreadybeenlistedinthepenalcode,1whichde-finesterrorismas“anyactthatcanleadtounderminingthepoliticalregimeoftheKingdom.”2Thenewlawalsoexplicitlypenalizestheuseofinformationandcommunicationtechnologies(ICTs)topromote,support,orfundterroristacts.InNovember2014,thenewantiterrorismamendmentswereusedtosentencethedeputyleaderoftheMuslimBrotherhood,ZakiBaniIrshaid,to1.5yearsofprisonwithhardlaborfor“threateningthecountry’srelationtoaforeignstate”afterhecriticizedthegovernmentoftheUnitedArabEmiratesonhispersonalFacebookpage.3Anumberofotherac-tivistswerearrestedandputontrialbytheStateSecurityCourtformaterialtheypublishedonline.
InSeptember2014,JordanjoinedtheU.S.-ledcoalitionperformingairstrikesagainstIslamicState(IS)targetsinSyria.Oppositiongroupsprotestedthemoveusingthesloganandhashtag,“NotOurWar.”However,aftertheJordanianpilotMoathAl-KasasbehwastakencaptiveandeventuallykilledbyIS,theseexpressionsofoppositionbecamemuchlessvisible.WhilesomesaythatthekillingofthepilotunitedJordaniansandstrengthenedsentimentsinsupportofthewar,4otherssaydissent-ingvoicesdecreasedduetoself-censorship.5Meanwhile,governmentcensorshipofonlinecontentincreasedafterAl-KasasbehwastakencaptiveandeventuallyexecutedbyIS.InDecember2014,theStateSecurityCourtProsecutorissuedadecreeprohibitingthepublicationofanynewsitemsorphotosreleasedbyIS.6Twowebsites,Al-Kawn NewsandSaraya News,wereblockedforbreakingthisorder.Al-Kawn wasunblockedfourdayslater,butSaraya Newsremainedblockedforoveramonth,whileitsownerandeditorweredetainedandchargedundertheantiterrorismlaw.
InternetaccesswasfirstprovidedtoJordaniansin1995,thesameyeartheTelecommunicationsReg-ulatoryCommission(TRC)wasestablishedtoregulatethecountry’sinformationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)sector.7Recognizingtheeconomicpotentialoftheinternet,authoritiesactivelypromotedICTdevelopmentinthesmallkingdom.8Onceseenasameansfortrivialentertainmentandtheexchangeofscandalousorbannedinformation,theinternethasgrownintoavitalinstru-mentforbusinessandanimportantforumforpublicdiscussion.Accordingly,asthenumberofusersbegantoincreasedramatically,thegovernmentdrewuplegalmethodsformaintainingcontroloveronlinecontentandmonitoringusers,particularlyaftertheregionaluprisingsof2011.9Constitutionalamendmentswerepassedtocalmpublicdiscontent,improvingprotectionsonfreedomofexpres-sionandstrengtheningtheindependenceofthejudiciary,whileparliamentaryelectionstookplace
1 Anti-Terrorismlaw–No18,art.3(B),2014.http://bit.ly/1trDOKp.2 PenalCodeofJordan,art.149,http://bit.ly/1h4UPfa.3 HumanRightsWatch,“Jordan:18MonthsforCriticizingUAE,”February19,2015,http://bit.ly/1VN1SJt.4 AliceSu,“ItWasn’tTheirWar,”The Atlantic,February5,2015,http://theatln.tc/1Awioos.5 ZiadAbu-Rish,“ManufacturingSilence:OnJordan’sISISWar,ArabAuthoritarianism,andUSEmpire,”Jadaliyya,February14,2015,http://bit.ly/1El44xh6 “ABanonPublishingwhatISISReleasesAboutPilot,”[inArabic]Al-Ghad,December25,2014,http://bit.ly/1ELp5Qh7 TheTRCwasestablishedasafinanciallyandadministrativelyindependentjurisdictionalbodythroughtheTelecommunicationsLawNo.13of1995andasubsequentamendmentLawNo.8of2002.8 PrivacyInternational,“Jordan,”Silenced: An International Report on Censorship and Control of the Internet,2003,http://bit.ly/1gyucy4.9 “Demonstrations,roadsblockingandconfrontationsinJordanafterriseinFuelprices,”[inArabic]Al Eqtisadiah,November13,2012,accessedJune26,2013,http://www.aleqt.com/2012/11/13/article_709448.html.
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underaslightlyimprovedelectoralframeworkinJanuary2013.Mostofthesehoweverdidnotma-terializeintoanychangeinthestatusquo.
InSeptember2012,thePressandPublicationsLawwasamendedtointroducemorerestrictionstoonlinemedia,whichwasusedtoblocknearly300websitesinJune2013forfailingtoregisterwiththeMediaCommission.Althoughmostofthesiteseventuallyreceivedlicensesandwereunblocked,thegovernmentcontinuedtoblockunlicensednewswebsitesoverthecoverageperiod.TheUniver-salPeriodicalReviewofJordan,whichtookplaceinOctober2013undertheUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil,criticizedtheincreasedcensorshipinthecountry,alongwiththecontinuedtrialsofciviliansbeforemilitarycourtsforoffensesrelatedtofreespeech.10
Obstacles to Access
Mobile broadband has soared in the country, boosted by the introduction of 4G LTE and more afford-able pricing. However, competition in the ICT sector is hindered by the influence of Jordan’s existing providers.
Availability and Ease of Access
AccordingtotheInternationalTelecommunicationUnion(ITU),atotalof44percentoftheJordanianpopulationhadaccesstotheinternetbytheendof2014,upfrom26percentfiveyearsearlier.11Na-tionalfiguresfromtheTelecommunicationsRegulationCommission(TRC)estimatedthenumberofuserstohaveincreasedbyendofMarch2015to76percent,or5.9millionusers.AccordingtoTRCstatistics,thenumberofmobilebroadbandsubscriptionsreached1.5millionbyendofMarch2015,whilefixed-lineADSLsubscriptionsnumbered218,459.Mobilephoneusehasalsoexpandedrapidly,andbytheendofMarch2015,thenumberofsubscriptionswasover11.5million,representingapenetrationrateof147percent.12
Theexpansionoffixed-lineinternetaccesshasbeenhamperedbytherelativelyhighcostsofcom-putersandconnectivity.Consequently,fixedbroadbandsubscriptionshavedecreasedsince2009,withonly2.83subscriptionsper100inhabitants.13Ontheotherhand,mobilebroadbandusehassoaredtoover1.5millionsubscribers.14
Forseveralyears,internetconnectionfeeswereconsideredhighrelativetoneighboringcountriesandthecostofliving.Priceshavedroppedin2014,butcomplaintsaboutthequalityofservicepersist.Monthlyfixed-linesubscriptionpricescurrentlyrangefromJOD19.9(US$28)forspeedsof1Mbpsandanallowanceof10Gigabytes(GB),toJOD34.9(US$59)forspeedsofupto24Mbpsandunlimiteddownload.OrangeJordanalsobeganofferingafiberconnectionwithspeedsupto80MbpsandunlimiteddownloadallowanceforJOD74.9permonth(US$105.5).Postpaidmonthly
10 UnitedNationsHumanRights:OfficeofHighCommissionerforHumanRights,“UniversalPeriodicReview:MediaBrief,”October24,2013,http://bit.ly/1KWeI5i;UNGeneralAssembly,HumanRightsCouncil,Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, January6,2014,19,www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session25/Documents/A-HRC-25-9_en.doc.11 InternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“PercentageofindividualsusingtheInternet,”2014,http://bit.ly/1cblxxY.12 TRC,“StatisticsforQ1,2015,”[inArabic],http://bit.ly/1UhTwru.13 InternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“Fixed(Wired)BroadbandSubscriptions,”2000-2013,accessedJuly5,2014,http://bit.ly/1cblxxY.14 MohammadGhazal,“Internetpenetrationrisesto76percentinQ1”,The Jordan Times,June20,2015,http://bit.ly/1IrYb1y
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plansforEvolvedHigh-SpeedPacketAccess(HSPA+)rangefromJOD10(US$14)toJOD20(US$28)permonth,dependingonspeedsanddataallowances.15Bycomparison,grossnationalincomepercapitaisUS$4,950,orUS$413permonth.16Meanwhile,internetaccessinmanyofthecountry’sgov-ernoratesandremoteareasremainspoor,asalmostallcompaniesconcentratetheiroperationsandpromotionsinmajorcities,particularlythecapitalAmman.
Restrictions on Connectivity
TherewerenorestrictionsonconnectivityseeninJordanoverthepastyear.However,thecentraliza-tionofinternetbackboneinfrastructureingovernmenthandsremainsaconcern.Theformerlystate-ownedJordanTelecomcontrolsthefixed-linenetworkandprovidesaccesstoallotherISPs,therebycentralizingmostoftheconnectiontotheinternationalinternet.Thegovernmentretainsadegreeofcontroloverthecountry’sinternetbackbone,andalltrafficwithinthecountrymustflowthroughagovernment-controlledtelecommunicationshub.
ICT Market
TheICTsectorisregulatedunderLawNo.13of1995anditsamendment,LawNo.8of2002.Thelawendorsesfree-marketpoliciesandgovernslicensingandqualityassurance.17Citizensandbusi-nessescanobtaininternetaccessthroughprivatelyownedserviceproviderswithoutstateapprovalorregistration.ANovember2011reportslisted16activeinternetserviceproviders(ISPs)inJordan,thoughlicenseshavebeengrantedtoover20companies.18ThemarketisdominatedbyUmniah(asubsidiaryofBatelcoBahrain),Zain,andJordanTelecom,inwhichFranceTelecomowns51percentofshares,withtheremainingsharesdividedbetweentheSocialSecurityCorporation,thearmedforces,andothers.
3GserviceswerefirstlaunchedbyZainandJordanTelecom(Orange)inmid-2010andincreaseduponimplementationofataxexemptionforthepurchaseofsmartphonesandthelaunchofmobilebroadbandbyanotherprovider,Umniah.19AcallfromtheTRCtointroduceafourthmobileopera-torinDecember2012,however,wasrejectedbyZainandJordanTelecom.20Nonewprovidershavebeenintroducedsincethenandthethreecompanieshaveasimilarshareofthemarket.21Afterre-jectingtwointernationaloperators,theJordaniangovernmentawardedZainJordanwiththerightstointroduce4Gservicestothemarket.Zainlaunchedits4G/LongTermEvolution(LTE)servicesonFebruary14,2014.InJanuary2015,OrangeJordanwasawardedthesecond4GlicenseforUS$100
15 Zain,“VoicePlans&Benefits,” 2015,http://www.jo.zain.com/english/consumer/voice/Pages/default.aspx.16 WorldBankDatabank,“GNIpercapita,Atlasmethod(currentUS$),”2009-2014,accessedSeptember15,2014,http://bit.ly/1Diyy0Q.17 “Jordan,”inOne Social Network With A Rebellious Message, ArabicNetworkforHumanRightsInformation,2009,http://bit.ly/1V0uqvC.18 InternationalTelecommunicationsUnion,ICT adoption and prospects in the Arab region,Summit2012,57,http://bit.ly/1Ku2sZC.19 InternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“Smartphonetaxexemptiondrives3Ggrowth(Jordan),”newsrelease,January19,2012,http://bit.ly/1JBLEtS.20 Ghazzal,Mohammad,“OrangeJordanOpposesTRCPlan,”TheJordan Times,December15,2012,accessedApril30,2013http://bit.ly/1ECBaO5.21 MaiBarakat,“Jordanwillbechallenging,butafourthoperatormightfindelbowroomasamobilebroadbandprovider,”Ovum,February21,2013,http://bit.ly/1JBMhUg.
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millionandlaunchedLTEservicesinAmmaninMay2015.Itannouncedaimstoexpandtheservicenationwidebythethirdquarterof2015.22
Regulatory Bodies
TheTRCistheindependentagencyresponsibleforregulatingtheICTsector.ItisgovernedbytheTelecommunicationsLawanddefinedasa“financiallyandadministrativelyindependentjuridicalper-sonality.”23Nonetheless,itisaccountabletotheMinistryofInformationandCommunicationTech-nology(MoICT),whichwascreatedinApril2002todrivethecountry’sICTdevelopment.24TheTRC’sBoardofCommissionersanditschairman,currentlyGhaziSalemAl-Jobor(appointedinJune2015),25areappointedbyaresolutionfromtheCouncilofMinistersbasedonanominationfromtheprimeminister.26AlthoughoneoftheTRC’sresponsibilitiesistomonitorqualityofservice,itsreportsrelyonself-evaluationreportssubmittedbytheISPsthemselves,inwhich,forexample,OrangeJordanclaimsthat99.9percentofcomplaintsaresolvedwithin10daysofreceipt.InMarch2015,FrenchtelecomscompanyOrangebroughtacasebeforetheInternationalCentreforSettlementofInvest-mentDisputesagainstJordanforalackoftransparencyintheprocedureforrenewinga2Glicense.27
Limits on Content
The blocking of news websites has increased since June 2013, when some 300 sites were blocked for failing to obtain a license with the government after a new Press and Publication Law was passed nine months earlier. Since then, most news sites have obtained licenses and had access restored. Over the past year, however, authorities have once again targeted online news outlets with blocking, this time for publishing content surrounding the Jordanian military and its campaign against ISIS.
Blocking and Filtering
OntheeveofDecember25,2014,theAttorneyGeneralissuedadecreeprohibitingmediaoutletsfrompublishinganynewsorimagesreleasedbyISISaboutMoathal-Kasasbeh,aJordanianpilotheldcaptivebytheterroristgroup.28Onedaylater,thelicensedwebsiteAl-Kawn Newswasblockedfordisobeyingtheorderandpublishingnewsaboutthepilot’scaptivitycirculatedbyISIS.29Al-Kawn News wasunblockedfourdayslater,onDecember29,2015,butthenewsiteminquestionwasremoved.
OnJanuary28,2015,JordanianauthoritiesblockedthelicensedlocalnewswebsiteSaraya News af-teritpublishedareportstatingthatanimprisonedIraqimilitantwouldbefreedinahostagenego-
22 MohammadGhazal,“Orangelaunches4GinAmman,toexpandnationwidebyQ3,”The Jordan Times, May26,2015http://bit.ly/1eCIvRh23 TheTelecommunicationsRegulatoryCommissionofJordan,ChapterIII,http://bit.ly/1Mwi5QE.24 Information&CommunicationTechnologyAssociation-Jordan,“JordanICTSectorProfile,”Slide10,accessedJuly5,2013,http://bit.ly/1V0uKKZ.25 TRC,“BoardofCommissionersProfile,”http://bit.ly/1LD3DRd.26 TRC,TelecommunicationLawNo.(13)of1995,January10,1995,pg18,accessedJune26,2013,http://bit.ly/1KWfNtT.27 “OrangeSuesGovernmentOver2G,”[inArabic]Al-Ghad,March22,2015,http://bit.ly/1Jl3Fjl.28 “ArmedForcesCallsonMediatoStandwithNation:ABanonPublishingAnythingfromISISonPilot,”[inArabic],Al-Ghad,December25,2014,http://bit.ly/1ELp5Qh.29 SkeyesCenterforMediaandCulturalFreedom,“JordanianMediaCommissionBlocksAl-KawnNews,”January2,2015,http://www.skeyesmedia.org/ar/News/Jordan/4933.
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tiationdealwithIS.30Thewebsitewasunavailablefor40days,duringwhichtwostaffweredetained(see“ProsecutionsandDetentionsforOnlineActivities”).
Reactingtotheseevents,AmjadAl-Qadi,theheadoftheMediaCommission,sentamemoonApril6,2015toallownersandeditorsoflicensednewswebsitesinstructingthemnottopublishanynewsorinformationrelatedtothemilitarywithouta“clearanddirectrequesttotheauthorizedmilitarysources.”Therequestwasdeliveredthroughanemailsenttowebsiteownersandeditors.31Bycon-trast,therewerenoreportsthatprintandaudiovisualmediareceivedanyrequests,mostlikelysincetheyareknowntobemonitoredbytheauthorities,andtheiremployeesdonotdaretopublishanyunauthorizednewsaboutthemilitary.
UnderamendmentstothePressandPublicationsLaw(PPL)passedin2012,newswebsitesarere-quiredtoobtainalicensefromtheMediaCommissionorfaceblocking.Thelawalsorequiresanyelectronicpublicationthatpublishesdomesticorinternationalnews,pressreleases,orcommentstoregisterwiththeMinistryofCommerceandIndustry.Oneoftherequirementsforageneralnewswebsitetoobtainalicenseistohaveaneditor-in-chiefwhohasbeenamemberoftheJordanPressAssociation(JPA)foratleastfouryears.TheproblematicsituationeasedinJuly2014,whentheJPAlawwasamendedtoenablejournalistsinonlinemediatobecomemembers.Priortothat,journalistscouldonlybecomemembersiftheyunderwentaperiodof“training”inan“official”mediaorgani-zation.AccordingtotheCentertoDefendFreedomofJournalists(CDFJ),around500journalistsinJordanarenotmembersoftheJPA.
Formanyobservers,thelaw’sbroaddefinitionofanewswebsiteincludesalmostallJordanianandinternationalwebsites,blogs,portals,andsocialnetworks.AccordingtheamendedPPL,anelectron-icpublicationisdefinedas“[a]nywebsitewithaspecificwebaddressontheinternetwhichprovidespublishingservices,includingnews,reports,investigations,articles,andcomments,andchoosestobelistedinaspecialregistermaintainedattheDepartment,pursuanttoinstructionsissuedbytheMinisterforthispurpose.”32Articles48and49enabletheheadoftheMediaCommissiontoblockanywebsiteforfailingtoobtainalicenseor,morebroadly,forviolatingJordanianlaw.
Consequently,291newswebsiteswereblockedinJune2013oninstructionsfromtheheadoftheMediaCommission(then-namedthePressandPublicationsDepartment)afteranine-monthgraceperiod.Mosthavesinceappliedforalicensetogetunblocked.ByJune2014,therewere160licensedgeneralnewssitesand100specializedwebsites.Toobtainlicenses,mostgeneralnewswebsiteshirednewchiefeditorswhowerealreadyJPAmembers,aconcerningdevelopmentforin-dependentmediagiventhat64percentofJPAmembersworkingovernmentorgovernment-relatedmediaoutlets.33Outof160licensedwebsites,68hiredneweditors-in-chiefwhohavefulltimejobsatothermediaoutlets,aviolationofArticle(23-A)ofthePPL.34AsofOctober2014,112websiteswereblocked,butonly15remainedoperational—theremaininghadshutdown.
SomeunlicensedwebsiteshaveresortedtousingalternativedomainsinordertoremainaccessibleinJordan,suchasJordaniansVoice.netand7iber.com.ButinJune2014,thenewlyappointedhead
30 CommitteetoProtectJournalists,“JordanArrestsTwoJournalistsonAidingTerrorismCharges,”January29,2015,http://cpj.org/x/5ecf.31 Thereportauthorreceivedacopyoftheemail.32 JordanianMediaMonitor,AmendedPress&PublicationsLawNo.32of2012,August2013,http://bit.ly/1zqh8ig.33 SawsanZaideh,“TheJordanPressAssociation:AMonopolybyLaw”,7iber,February16,2015,http://bit.ly/1zhSXSw.34 SawsanZaideh,“LicensingNewsWebsites:LegalRestrictionsandStructuralDeformities,”7iber,November3,2014,http://bit.ly/1bWgbba.
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oftheMediaCommissionsentarequesttotheTRCtoblockthealternativedomains,whichinturnsentadecreetoISPstoimplementtheblocking.Inaddition,theheadoftheMediaCommissionpressedchargesagainst7iber twomonthslater foroperatinganunlicensedmediaorganizationinviolationofArticle48(B)ofthePPL.Thecaseiscurrentlyincourt,and7iberfacesapotentialfineofJOD1,000-5,000(US$1,500–7,500).
TheJordaniangovernmentclaimedthattheamendmentswereintroduced“toregulatetheworkofnewswebsitesandinordertoincreasetransparencyandaccountability.”Officialsstatedthatthelawwascalledforbyprofessionalswithintheindustry,inordertopreserveprofessionalismandprotectthemediafromthose“whohavepracticedembezzlement,defamationandblackmailingtoade-greethatthreatenedsocialpeace.”35Ontheotherhand,localjournalists,internationalhumanrightsgroups,36andaformerJordanianministerofmediaaffairsandcommunicationcriticizedthedecisionasaseriousaffronttofreedomofthepress37andadecisivemovetocensortheinternetinJordan.38
Content Removal
The2012amendmentsofthePPLincreasedtheliabilityofintermediariesforcontentpostedontheirsites,placingreaders’commentsunderthesamerestrictionsasnormalnewscontent.Clause3ofArticle49statesthatboththeeditors-in-chiefandownersofonlinepublicationsarelegallyrespon-sibleforallcontentpostedtothesite,includingusercomments.39Moreover,websitesmustkeeparecordofallcommentsforsixmonthsafterinitialpublicationandrefrainfrompublishingany“un-truthful”or“irrelevant”comments.40Asaresult,somenewswebsites,suchasJO24,stoppedallowingcommentsaltogetherasanexpressionofprotest.41
Media, Diversity, and Content Manipulation
Manyjournalistsandeditorspracticeself-censorshipandrarelycrossthestandardredlines,partic-ularlyconcerningmaterialthatcouldbeperceivedasharmfultonationalsecurity,nationalunity,thecountry’seconomy,ortheroyalfamily.Ina2014surveyofjournalistsconductedbyCenterforDe-fendingFreedomofJournalistsinJordan,91percentofJordanianjournalistsadmittedtopracticingsomeformofself-censorship,withmorethanthree-quartersindicatingtheyavoidpublishinganymaterialcriticalofthemilitary,thejudicialsystem,triballeaders,andreligion.42
InAugust2014,afterparliamentvotedtopassconstitutionalamendmentsproposedbythegovern-mentthatgivethekingsoleauthoritytoappointheadsofthemilitaryandtheintelligence,major
35 UNGeneralAssembly,HumanRightsCouncil,Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, January6,2014,http://bit.ly/1FlG39f.36 Article19,“Jordan:WebsitesBlockingOrderMustbeRevokedImmediately,”June6,2013,accessedFebruary3,2014,http://bit.ly/1JQyooW.37 AmmanNet“Udwan:BlockingtheWebsitesisagainsttheDemocraticEmpowerment,”Jordan News Agency,June3,2013,accessedFebruary,32014.http://bit.ly/1xXFNhe.38 ReportersWithoutBorders,“InternationalFreeExpressionGroupsCallForAnEndToInternetCensorshipInJordan,”October8,2013,accessedFebruary3,2014,http://bit.ly/1KrbWyx.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 “DPPBringsDownMediaFreedominJordan,”Al Araby Al-Jadeed, May3,2014,http://bit.ly/1Nd4opP.
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newspapersinJordandidnotpublishanyarticlescriticaloftheamendments,demonstratingthehighdegreeofself-censorshipinthetraditionalmedia.Inoneincident,prominentjournalistandwriterRanaSabbaghwroteonherFacebookprofilethatherbi-weeklycolumninAl-Ghadnewspa-perwasbannedbytheeditor,andthatshewouldpublishthecolumnonFacebookandinanothermediaoutlet.43
Theonlineinformationlandscapewasalsolimitedbydirectbansonreportingoncertaintopics.OnApril6,2015,theheadoftheMediaCommissionsentamemotoallnewswebsitesprohibitingthemfrompublishinganythingrelatedtothemilitarywithoutdirectapprovalfromtheArmedForces.Hewroteinthememothat“websitesshouldrefrainfrompublishingorbroadcastinganyarticlesormilitaryinformationwithoutgettingthisnewsorinformationfromofficialsourcesintheArmedForces.”44Monthsearlier,onNovember26,2015,theArmedForcesappointedforthefirsttimeanofficialspokesperson,followingincreasedmediacoverageofJordan’sparticipationintheU.S.-ledcoalitionagainstISIS.45However,thisdidnotresultinincreasedtransparencyfromtheArmedForces,asthenumberofcommentsandstatementsmadebythisspokespersonregardingthewaronISISwasonlyfour,andhedidnotmakeanystatementsregardingJordan’sparticipationintheSaudi-ledcoalitionagainstYemen.46
SocialmediaapplicationssuchasFacebook,Twitter,andYouTubeareverypopular,particularlyamongyoungerJordanians.FacebooktopsthelistofmostvisitedwebsitesinJordan,whileYouTubecomesinfourth.47TherearearoundthreemillionFacebookusersinJordan,representingclosetohalfofthecountry’spopulation,48withapenetrationrateof48percentofthepopulationasofMay2014,ofwhom59percentaremale.49Twitterhasgarneredamuchsmallerfollowingofaround161,000users,oraround2.4percentofthepopulation.50Stateofficials,includingtheRoyalHash-emiteCourt,51theQueen,theCrownPrince,52andPrinceHassan,53haveestablishedsocialmediaaccountstocommunicatewiththepublic.QueenRaniaisbyfarthemostpopularoftheseaccounts,withnearly4millionfollowersonTwitterandover600,000onInstagram.54Shewas,infact,referredtobyForbesMiddleEastmagazineas“TheQueenofSocialMedia.”55Amonggovernmentofficials,ForeignMinisterNasserJudehhasover71,000Twitterfollowers,whileanunverifiedaccountrelatedtoPrimeMinisterAbdullaEnsourhas5,000followers.56
43 RanaSabbagh,Facebookpost,August20,2014,https://www.facebook.com/rana.sabbagh.777/posts/10152655581815903?pnref=story44 Theresearcherobtainedacopyoftheofficialmemo.45 “ColonelMamdouhAl-AmeriAppointedOfficialSpokespersonoftheArmy”,Al-Ghad,November26,2014http://bit.ly/1Hlhzwv.46 Omar,Mohammad,“MediaandPropaganda:TheTriumphofPropagandaandtheDemiseofthePress,”7iber,May28.2015http://bit.ly/1ezV8x9.47 Alexa,“TopSitesinJordan,”accessedonMay14,2015,http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/JO.48 MohammedBinRashidSchoolofGovernment,“CitizenEngagementandPublicServicesintheArabWorld:ThePotentialofSocialMedia,”Arab Social Media Report,Issue6,June2014,http://bit.ly/1lr6QKL.49 “CitizenEngagementandPublicServicesintheArabWorld:ThePotentialofSocialMedia,”Arab Social Media Report.50 “CitizenEngagementandPublicServicesintheArabWorld:ThePotentialofSocialMedia,”Arab Social Media Report,Figure32.51 RoyalHashemiteCourtInstagramPage,http://instagram.com/rhcjo.52 KingAbudullahIIBinAlHusseinInstagramPage,http://instagram.com/alhusseinbinabdullahii.53 PrinceMajlisElHassanTwitterPage,https://twitter.com/majliselhassan.54 QueenRaniaAlAbdullahTwitterPage,https://twitter.com/QueenRania;QueenRaniaAlAbdullahInstagram,http://bit.ly/1iVLx62.55 AbderrahimEtouil,“QueenofSocialMedia,”Forbes Middle East,July1,2011,http://bit.ly/1KMPUv0.56 PrimeMinisterDr.AbdullaEnsourTwitterPage,https://twitter.com/DrEnsour.
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Digital Activism
Inthepastyear,activistshaveusedsocialmediatoadvocateforsocialissuesandpushforlegisla-tivechange.OnMay2,2015,activistReemAl-Jaziwroteanop-edtoprotestthefactthathospitalsrequiretheapprovalofthefatheroramaleguardianbeforeadmittingachild,evenforemergencyprocedures,anddonotacknowledgethemother.57Herarticlewentviralandsparkedasocialmediacampaignpetitioningparliamenttoamendarticle123oftheCivilLawthatonlygrantsguardianshiptothefatherorthepaternalgrandfatheroruncle.58
Socialmediaplatforms,inadditiontonewswebsites,haveplayedanimportantroleinmobilizingpublicproteststoopposerestrictionsonfreeexpression,tocallforbroaderpoliticalreforms,andtoprotestgovernmentpolicies.Over500websiteswentofflineonAugust29,2012inacoordinatedprotestagainstthechangesinthePPL.59Thehomepagesofthesesitesdisplayedablackscreenwithtextreading,“YoumaybedeprivedofthecontentofthissiteundertheamendmentsoftheJordanianPressandPublicationsLawandthegovernmentalinternetcensorship.”Nonetheless,so-cialmediaactivismandnumerousprotestsultimatelyfailedtohaltpassageofthebillinSeptember2012.
Ontheotherhand,socialmediaplatformswerealsoutilizedtomobilizeforfurtherrestrictionsonaccesstointernetcontentbyusers.Forinstance,aFacebookcampaigntopressthegovernmenttoblockpornographicwebsitesinthecountryhasgarneredmorethan37,800likesasofMay2014.60Thegovernmentrespondedin2013byintroducinganewtelecommunicationslawthat,ifpassed,wouldprohibitISPsfromallowinguserstoaccesspornographicwebsites.61TheICTministeratthetime,Dr.AzzamSlait,reportedlywithdrewtheproposedlaw,sendingitbackforfurtherconsider-ationandpossibleamendmentsinmid-2014.62ThelawwasalsopublishedontheLegislationandOpinionBureau’swebsitetosolicitfeedbackfromthepublic.63
Violations of User Rights
A host of repressive laws and severe punishments create an environment of fear in Jordan, where jour-nalists, political activists, and ordinary users face arrest and possible prosecution if they overstep the boundaries of acceptable speech. Since the passage of the amended antiterrorism law in 2014, a grow-ing number of citizens have faced charges before the military-dominated State Security Court for their online activities, particularly on Facebook.64 At the same time, strict penalties for criminal defamation against public authorities, both foreign and domestic, remain a prominent concern.
57 ReemAlJazi,“Women:FullResponsibilitiesandStolenRights,”[inArabic]Khaberni,May2,2015http://bit.ly/1SVFrNV.58 ReemAlJazi,“Petitionmyson’slifeismyresponsibility,”May2015,http://chn.ge/1SBn85R.59 RuthMichaelson,“Jordanblocksover200‘unlicensed’websites,”IndexonCensorship,June3,2013,http://bit.ly/1ikDEXC.60 MohammadGhazal,“Facebookcampaignseeks100,000signaturestoblockpornsites,”The Jordan Times, August6,2013,http://bit.ly/1IN9P7c.61 “Governmentwillblockpornographiccontentfromtheinternetinearly2014,”[inArabic]Alarab Alyawm, February23,2013,http://bit.ly/1LD4Esz.62 IbrahimMbaideen,“Slait:TheGovernmentisReconsideringtheNewCommunicationLaw,”[inArabic]Al Ghad, June24,2014,http://bit.ly/11SyOIY.63 IbrahimMbaideen,“TheProposedTelecommunicationLawProhibitsAccesstoPornographicWebsites,”[inArabic]Al Ghad, April7,2014,http://bit.ly/1vjIp6E.64 ReemAl-Masri,“Anti-TerrorismLaw:BetweenProsecutingTerroristIdeologyandDissidentOpinion,”[inArabic]7iber,July27,2015,http://bit.ly/1fz0yJ0.
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Legal Environment
InSeptember2011,respondingtopublicdiscontent,constitutionalamendmentswereintroducedtostrengthenchecksandbalancesandensuregreaterprotectionsforhumanrights.65Themeasuresre-sultedinthecreationofaconstitutionalcourt(Article58-61),anexplicitprohibitionontorture(Ar-ticle8),andtherestrictionoftheStateSecurityCourt’sjurisdictiontocrimesoftreason,espionage,andterrorism(Article110).66TheConstitutionalCourt’sninememberswerenamedbyKingAbdullahIIinOctober2012.67Severalconstitutionalamendmentstoucheddirectlyorindirectlyoninternetfreedom.Specifically,termssuchas“massmedia”and“othermeansofcommunication,”whichlikelyencompassonlinemedia,wereaddedtoprovisionsthatprotectfreedomofexpressionandcon-comitantlyallowforitslimitationduringstatesofemergency(Article15).Withregardtotherighttoprivacy,judicialapprovalwasaddedasapreconditionforcensorshiporconfiscationofprivatecom-munications(Article18).68DespitethepassageofanAccesstoInformationLawin2007,anumberofrestrictionsremainonrequestingsensitivesocialandreligiouscontent.69
Beyondtheseconstitutionalprotections,severallawsthathinderfreedomofexpressionandaccesstoinformationremainonthebooks.Theseincludethe1959ContemptofCourtLaw,the1960penalcode,the1971ProtectionofStateSecretsandClassifiedDocumentsLaw,the1992DefenseLaw,the1998JordanPressAssociationLaw,andthe1999PressandPublicationsLaw.Defamationremainsacriminaloffenseunderthepenalcode.Amendmentstothepresslawenactedin2010abolishedprisonsentencesforlibelingprivatecitizens.However,thesamebillincreasedfinesandjailsen-tencesfordefaminggovernmentofficialstouptoJOD10,000(US$14,000)and3to12monthsimprisonment.70
The2010cybercrimelawprescribespenaltiesforhackingandonlineidentitytheft,thoughitalsocontainsseveralprovisionsthatcouldbeeasilyusedtosuppressonlineexpression.Forexample,thelawprohibitspostinganyinformationconcerningnationalsecurity,foreignaffairs,thenationaleconomy,andpublicsafetythatisnotalreadyavailabletothegeneralpublic.Nevertheless,follow-ingprotestsbycivilsociety,severalmoreegregiousprovisionsrelatedtodefamationandwarrantlesspolicesearcheswereremovedbyroyaldecreeinSeptember2010,onemonthafterthelawwaspassed.71
ThePressandPublicationLaw,amendedin2012,bansthepublicationof“materialthatisinconsis-tentwiththeprinciplesoffreedom,nationalobligation,humanrights,andArab-Islamicvalues.”72Article38ofthePPLalsoprohibitsany“contempt,slander,ordefamationoforabuseof”religionsor
65 TheLawLibraryofCongress,“Jordan:ConstitutionalLawCourtNewlyEstablishedinJordan,”newsrelease,December3,2012,accessedJune26,2013,http://1.usa.gov/1V0VPTH.66 “Jordan’sKingAbdullahApprovesConstitutionalReforms,”Haaretz, September20,2011,http://bit.ly/1Xm9Fyo.67 AgenceFrancePresse,“Jordan’sKingAbdullaSetsupaConstitutionalCourt,”The Daily Star,October7,2012,accessedJune26,2013,http://bit.ly/1L7W0Sq.68 ConstitutionofJordan,January1,1952,http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html.69 Forexample,thelawbarspublicrequestsforinformationinvolvingreligious,racial,ethnic,orgenderdiscrimination(Article10),andallowsofficialstowithholdalltypesofclassifiedinformation,averybroadcategory(Article13)see,ArabArchivesInstitute,“SummaryoftheStudyonAccesstoInformationLawinJordan,”June2005,http://www.alarcheef.com/reports/englishFiles/accessToInformation.pdf.70 JordanMediaStrengtheningProgram,Introduction to News Media Law and Policy in Jordan,May2011,pg38,http://bit.ly/1F79kKt.71 ReportersWithoutBorders,“Governmentyieldstoprotests,modifiescybercrimeslaw,”InternationalFreedomofExpressionExchange,newsrelease,September3,2010,http://ifex.org/jordan/2010/09/03/cyber_crimes_law/.72 ThePressandPublicationsLaw1998amendedbyLawNo.32.
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prophets.Thesamearticleprohibitsthepublicationofanymaterialthatisdefamatoryorslanderousofindividualswhoarealsoprotectedbythesamelawagainst“rumors”and“anythingthathinderstheirpersonalfreedom.”73Journalists,websiteowners,andeditorsinchieffaceafineofJOD5,000(US$7,500)iffoundtoviolatethelaw.Inaddition,civildefamationsuitsagainstprivateindividualscanresultinfinesofbetweenJOD500to1,000(US$700to1,400).74
Inearly2014,alawwaspassedtolimitthepowersofthequasi-militaryStateSecurityCourt,beforewhichcitizensandjournalistscouldbetriedforcrimesrelatedtofreedomofexpression.Thelaw,proposedinSeptember2013inresponsetointernationalcriticism,limitedthecourt’sjurisdictiontoonlyfiveareas:terrorism,espionage,drugfelonies,treason,andcurrencycounterfeiting.75Atthetime,thechangeswereseencosmeticatbest,withHumanRightsWatchstatingthatJordanneededto“overhaulitsoutdatedpenalcodeandstopdraggingciviliansinfrontoftheStateSecurityCourtjustfordemonstratingforreform.”76
Worryingly,amendmentstothe2006antiterrorismlawpassedinmid-2014essentiallyreversedmanyoftheadvancesmadeintheabove-mentionedlawbyexpandingthedefinitionof“terrorism”toincludebroaderoffenses.77SanctionedbythesenateonMay1,201478andendorsedbyKingAbdullahIIthefollowingmonth,79theamendmentshavebeencriticizedfor“broaden[ing]thedefi-nitionofterrorismandthreaten[ing]freedomofexpression,”80whileincreasingthescaleofpunish-ments.Inadditiontomorelegitimateoffensessuchasattackingmembersoftheroyalcourtorpro-vokingan“armedrebellion,”thedefinitionofterroristactivitiesnowincludesanyactsthat“threatenthecountry’srelationstoforeignstatesorexposethecountryoritscitizenstoretaliatoryactsonthemortheirmoney,”anoffensethathadalreadybeenlistedinthepenalcode.81Thenewlawalsoexplicitlypenalizestheuseofinformationandcommunicationtechnologies(ICTs)topromote,sup-port,orfundterroristacts,ortosubject“Jordaniansortheirpropertytodangerofhostileactsoractsofrevenge.”82
PoliticalanalystsunderstoodthenewamendmentsinthecontextofthesecuritythreatsposedbyJordan’sproximitytoSyriaandgrowingtensionsintheregion.83However,manycriticsviewthebillasatoolforthegovernmenttocrackdownontheoppositionandimposefurtherrestrictionsonme-diafreedom.84Onlinemediaoutletswillbeevenmorehesitanttopublishanynewsoropinionsthatcouldbeconstruedasoverly-criticalofforeignleadersordiplomats,particularlyofforeigncountries.Thelawcomesatatimewhenneighboringcountries,suchasEgypt,85SaudiArabia,86andtheUnit-
73 Lawnumber(32)2012.AmendmentstoThePressandPublicationslawfortheYear1998(8),Article38,clausesA,B,C&D.74 ThePressandPublicationsLaw1998amendedbyLawNo.32.75 HumanRightsWatch,“Jordan:EndTrialsofPersecutorsUnderminingRegime,”October29,2013,http://bit.ly/1hEq94a.76 HumanRightsWatch,“Jordan:EndTrialsofPersecutorsUnderminingRegime.”77 HumanRightsWatch“Jordan:TerrorismAmendmentsThreatenRights,”May,17,2014,http://bit.ly/Rhgpzz.78 “TheSenateApprovesof“Journalists”,“Water”,“Anti-Terrorism”and“MilitaryCourt”Laws,”[inArabic]All of Jo, May1,2014,http://www.allofjo.net/index.php?page=article&id=68585.79 “RoyalEndorsementofAnti-TerrorismLaw,”[inArabic]Gerasa News,June1,2014,http://bit.ly/1N5YSnh.80 HumanRightsWatch,“Jordan:TerrorismAmendmentsThreatenRights.”81 Anti-Terrorismlaw–No182014Article3(b),http://bit.ly/1trDOKp.82 ReportersWithoutBorders,“Kingurgedtorepealdraconianchangestoanti-terrorismlaw,”June16,2014,http://bit.ly/1UvoACc.83 “JordanAmendsAnti-TerrorLawtoFaceSyriaFallout,”Naharnet Newsdesk,April25,2014,http://bit.ly/1KufnuJ.84 AreejAbuqudairi,“JordanAnti-TerrorismLawSparksConcern,”Al Jazeera,April25,2014,http://bit.ly/1OdOzw0.85 ShadiaNasralla,“EgyptdesignatesMuslimBrotherhoodasterroristgroup,”Reuters,December25,2013,http://reut.rs/1cRIG3C.86 AlaaShahineandGlenCarey,“UAESupportsSaudiArabiaAgainstQatar-BackedBrotherhood,” Bloomberg Business,March9,2014,http://bloom.bg/1KMZu11.
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edArabEmirates,87haveoutlawedtheMuslimBrotherhoodasaterroristorganization.TheIslamicActionFront,thepoliticalarmofJordan’sMuslimBrotherhoodandaprominentoppositiongroup,askedforchangestothelawtobemadeinearly2014.88
Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities
SeveraljournalistshavebeenchargedwithcriminaloffensesdespiteprovisionsinthePressandPublicationLawthatbanthejailingofjournalistsforpressoffenses.OnJanuary28,2015,JordanianauthoritiesarrestedSaraya NewsownerHashemAl-KhalidiandeditorSaifObeidatafterthenewssitepublishedareportstatingthatanimprisonedIraqimilitantwouldbefreedinahostagenegoti-ationdealwithISIS.89ThetwowerechargedbytheStateSecurityCourtofusingmediatospreadtheideasofaterroristgroupandofplacingJordaniansunderthreatofhostileactsinviolationofarticles(3)and(7)oftheamendedantiterrorismlaw.Theyweredetainedfor40daysbeforebeingreleasedonbail,afterwhichpointthewebsitewasunblocked.
PoliticaltensionshavealsoresultedintheprosecutionofJordaniansaffiliatedwiththeMuslimBrotherhood.InNovember2014,thedeputyleaderoftheMuslimBrotherhoodinJordan,ZakiBaniIrshaid,wasarrestedandchargedwith“harmingJordan’stieswithafriendlystate”undertheamendedantiterrorismlawafterhepublishedapostonhisFacebookprofilecriticizingtheUAEgovernmentandaccusingitofsponsoringterrorismandsupportingthe“Zionistagenda.”90Hewasrepeatedlydeniedbailduringthetrial,andinFebruary2015hewassentencedbytheStateSecu-rityCourtto1.5yearsinprisonwithhardlabor.91TheCourtofCessationupheldtherulinginApril2015.92
InJanuary2015,twoactivistsaffiliatedwiththeMuslimBrotherhoodwerearrestedonordersfromtheStateSecurityCourtbecauseofmaterialtheypublishedonFacebook.ThabetAssafwasarrestedonJanuary15andchargedwith“underminingtheregimeonsocialnetworkingwebsites.”HewasreleasedonbailonMarch26.93BasemRawabdehwasarrestedonJanuary17andchargedwith“in-citingtoopposetheregimethroughFacebookcomments.”Hewassentencedtofivemonthsinpris-onandreleasedinMay2015.94
Evenparliamentarians(MPs)havebeentargetedfortheironlineposts.InMarch2015,twocitizensfiledacomplaintagainstMPTarekKhouryattheStateSecurityCourtforaFacebookpostinwhichhecriticizedJordan’speacetreatyandrelationshipwithIsrael.95Followingthecomplaint,theStateSecurityCourtprosecutorsentarequesttotheprimeministerrequestingthatparliamentaryim-munitybeliftedfromKhouryinordertoputhimontrialforchargesof“underminingtheregime”
87 “UAEjails30over‘MuslimBrotherhoodties’,”BBC News,January21,2014,http://bbc.in/1N5ZR6X.88 MousaKraeen,“TheLegalcommitteeinintheIslamicActionFrontRequestsCertainAmendmentstotheproposedAnti-TerrorismLaw,”[inArabic]AsSabeel.March23,2014,http://bit.ly/1y91uIG.89 CommitteetoProtectJournalists,“JordanArrestsTwoJournalistsonAidingTerrorismCharges,”January29,2015,http://cpj.org/x/5ecf.90 RanaF.Sweis,“JordanArrestsMuslimBrotherhoodOfficialOverCriticismofUnitedArabEmirates”,November21,2014,http://nyti.ms/1B3k9FC.91 “MuslimBrotherhoodleadersentencedto1.5yearsinjail”,The Jordan Times,February15,2015,http://bit.ly/1EbfNMS.92 “CessationCourtOverturnsBaniIrshaid’sAppealofStateSecurityCourtRuling,”[inArabic]Al-Ghad,April15,2015http://bit.ly/1Fk7y6l93 Al-Masri,“Anti-TerrorismLaw:BetweenProsecutingTerroristIdeologyandDissidentOpinion.”94 Al-Masri,“Anti-TerrorismLaw:BetweenProsecutingTerroristIdeologyandDissidentOpinion.”95 Theresearcherobtainedacopyofthemilitaryprosecutor’slettertothePrimeMinister.
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and“usingtheinternetforactsnosanctionedbythestatethatcanharmtheKingdom’stieswithaforeigncountry”underarticles(3-B)and(7-C)oftheantiterrorismlaw.Thetwocitizenswhofiledthecomplainteventuallywithdrewit,butmanyviewedthemoveasamessageintendedtodeterpeoplefromexpressingtheirviewsfreelyonFacebook.
Surveillance, Privacy, and Anonymity
Sincethepassageofamendmentstotheantiterrorismlawin2014,anumberofpeoplehavebeenarrestedandputontrialattheStateSecurityCourtforprivatemessagestheypostedonWhatsApp.Whilethereisnoconcreteevidencethatthegovernmentsystematicallymonitorsandinterceptsprivatecommunications,defenselawyerssaythatmaterialobtainedfrommobilephonesorlaptopsisoftenobtainedwithoutacourtorder,whichcannotbelegallyusedasevidence.96InOctober2013,Aymanal-Bahrawiwasaccusedof“lengtheningthetongue”and“insulting”foreignheadsofstateinprivateWhatsAppmessagesfoundonhismobilephone.
Ingeneral,Jordaniansarecarefulwhentalkingonmobilephonesoratpublicmeetings.Thisattitudehaspassednaturallytotheinternet,whereitisbelievedthatsecurityservicescloselymonitoronlinecomments,catalogingthembydate,internet-protocol(IP)address,andlocation.Furthermore,claus-eswithinmobilephonecontractsgiveJordaniancompaniestherighttoterminateservicesshouldcustomersuseitinanyway“threateningtopublicmoralornationalsecurity.”97
Cybercafes,whereusersmightotherwisewritewithrelativeanonymity,havebeensubjectedtoagrowingsetofregulationsinrecentyears.Sincemid-2010,operatorshavebeenobligedtoinstallsecuritycamerastomonitorcustomers,whomustsupplypersonalidentificationinformationbeforetheyusetheinternet.Cafeownersarerequiredtoretainthebrowsinghistoryofusersforatleastsixmonths.98Authoritiesclaimtheserestrictionsarenecessaryforsecurityreasons.Althoughen-forcementissomewhatlax,theonce-thrivingcybercafebusinessisnowindeclinedueinparttotherestrictions,aswellasincreasedaccesstopersonalinternetconnections.
Intimidation and Violence
Therewerenoreportedinstancesofphysicalviolenceagainstinternetusersfortheironlineactivitiesoverthepastyear.Aclimateoffearandintimidationremains,however,forthoseworkinginonlinemedia.ThelastreportedincidentoccurredonJuly17,2012,whenunknownperpetratorsraidedtheofficesoftheonlinenewssiteWatan,stealingdocumentsanddamagingequipment.99
Technical Attacks
Overthepastyear,incidentsofcyberattacksagainstbloggersandstaffofonlinenewswebsitesde-
96 Al-Masri,“Anti-TerrorismLaw:BetweenProsecutingTerroristIdeologyandDissidentOpinion.”97 EyeonMedia,“DecliningFreedom,RestrictionsontheInternetandaFinancialCrisis,”December25,2013,http://bit.ly/1KN2GcQ.98 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/23211.99 “Report:increasingattacksonjournalistsinJordan,mostlyfromthesecurity,”[inArabic]SatelNews,July8,2012,http://bit.ly/15WAUGB.
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creasedinseveritycomparedtopreviousyears.In2012,thewebpagesofthenewssitesKhaberniandAl Ainwerehacked;thesiteoftheJordanianrapgroupAhatwasalsohackedonSeptember15,2012.100InFebruary2011,oneofthecountry’smostpopularnewswebsites,Ammon News, washackedandtemporarilydisabledafteritseditorsrefusedtocomplywithsecurityagents’demandstoremoveastatementby36prominentJordaniantribesmen,inwhichtheycalledfordemocraticandeconomicreforms.Amongotheractions,thehackersdeletedthejointstatement,whichwerepoliticallysensitivegiventhegroups’historicsupportforthemonarchy.101
100 SkeyesCenterforMediaandCulturalFreedom,Press and Cultural Freedom in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine – Annual Report 2012,2013,http://foundationforfuture.org/en/Portals/0/Grantees%20Publications/SKeyes%202012%20Annual%20Report%20EN.pdf.101 CommitteetoProtectJournalists,“InJordan,websitehackedafterrunningsensitivestatement,”February9,2011,http://cpj.org/x/416b.
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