Jordan Passes Controversial Cybercrime Law Amid Global Concern

Despite international concerns over freedom of speech and privacy, Jordan's government has rapidly green-lighted a new cybercrime law to bolster its defense against a rising tide of cyberattacks in the region.

Over the past decade, Jordan has initiated multiple cybercrime policies. However, the latest law stands out due to its proactive approach to addressing vulnerabilities, cybercrimes, and their punishments. The urgency for such measures could be tied to the recent increase in cyberattacks targeting the Middle East.

The initial legislation emerged as a reaction to the security implications of rapid IT sector advancements. Its objective was to regulate acts "that are carried out by electronic means and the punishment of their perpetrators in order to achieve public and private deterrence," as per the law's introduction.

Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher Al Khasawneh staunchly defended the law, remarking to Reuters that Jordan has witnessed a sixfold surge in online crime. While many of the law's 41 articles explicitly define specific cybercrimes and their penalties - ranging from fines to prison - certain articles have raised eyebrows due to their ambiguous phrasing.

Article 12, for instance, has become a lightning rod for human rights advocates who argue it may infringe on privacy rights. The article states that individuals who "circumvent the protocol address" can face fines of 2,500 to 25,000 dinars and a prison sentence of no less than six months.

As Human Rights Watch pointed out, such phrasing could include users of VPNs, the Tor browser, and anonymous proxies, forcing individuals to choose between freely voicing their opinions online and safeguarding their anonymity.

Furthermore, Article 25, which holds the administrators of various online platforms accountable for illicit content, has drawn criticism. Human Rights Watch, Article 19, Access Now, and 11 other organizations see this article as a tool that could threaten free speech, the right to access information and privacy rights, and can be wielded to tighten the government's grip over the nation's internet landscape.

A joint statement from these groups cautions that the legislation "could also be leveraged to increase control over social media, hamper free expression, increase online censorship, weaken online anonymity, and hamper access to information."

Even as the European Union acknowledged Jordan's strides toward crafting a robust legislative framework to efficaciously combat cybercrime, it has reservations. The EU commented that some stipulations of the new bill clash with international human rights standards and might limit freedom of speech, both offline and online.

The draft was introduced to the Jordanian parliament on July 15 and, in a whirlwind sequence of events, was approved by the parliament on August 2 and received the King's assent on August 12. Such a rapid progression, coupled with the numerous contentious points within the law, raises concerns regarding its transparency and broader public participation in the legislative process.