Authorities in Jordan are facing criticism from Amnesty International for their use of the Cybercrimes Law to suppress online criticism of government policies and practices. The Cybercrimes Law 2015 was recently revised on August 13, 2023, by Cybercrime Law No. 173, which brought sweeping changes to the scope of offenses and state prosecution powers. Amnesty International has raised concerns about the law’s ambiguous drafting, which has led to harsh penalties for offenses such as „spreading fake news,“ „provoking strife,“ „threatening societal peace,“ and „contempt for religions.“
Amnesty International documented 15 cases where individuals were prosecuted under the Cybercrimes Law, and found that the path to prosecution was marred by human rights violations. Defendants were arrested without a warrant or explanation after criticizing authorities online, and were subjected to intimidation without access to a lawyer. Prosecutors relied on Articles 15 and 17 in all of the documented prosecutions.
Article 15 of the Cybercrimes Law criminalizes the online publication or sharing of information that targets national security and community peace, or defames or insults an individual. Conviction under this article can result in a minimum three-month sentence and/or a fine ranging between $7,000 and $28,200. A personal complaint against an individual is not required for prosecution. Article 17 criminalizes online expression that provokes strife or sedition, threatens societal peace, incites hatred, calls for violence, or insults religions. A conviction under this article can result in a one-to-three-year sentence and/or a fine ranging between $7,000 and $28,200.
Amnesty International has highlighted the cases of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists who have been charged for social media posts that criticized authorities, expressed pro-Palestinian sentiment, criticized Jordan’s peace deal with Israel, or called for peaceful protests and strikes. The Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, Aya Majzoub, criticized the Jordanian authorities for their assault on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Majzoub stated that the crackdown has stifled dissent in Jordan and created an environment of self-censorship.
In recent months, journalist Hiba Abu Tahu was convicted for expressing views online that Jordan was involved in genocide in Gaza, and lawyer and activist Moutaz Awwad was convicted for criticizing the policies of Arab countries towards Israel. Majzoub called on the authorities to repeal or amend the law in a way that is consistent with international human rights obligations, and to drop all illegitimate charges.
The use of the Cybercrimes Law in Jordan to suppress online criticism is a concerning development that Amnesty International is actively monitoring. The organization is calling for the protection of freedom of expression and the rights of individuals to peacefully express their opinions online without fear of prosecution. It remains to be seen how the Jordanian authorities will respond to these calls for reform and respect for human rights.