Critics Say Online Expression is Threatened
Journalists and media advocates are locking horns with Jordanian authorities over a new media law that affects the hundreds of websites in Jordan. The law says that all news websites operated by Jordanians must register with the government and obtain licenses. The government can block and censor all news websites that are either unlicensed or in violation of the law.
There are an estimated 400 news websites in Jordan used by the half of the population who are online. Some websites claim a daily readership of nearly 30,000 per day. Media representatives say they plan to protest the new rules by going blank for a day soon.
Journalists say some of the websites have played an important role in uncovering corruption investigations, including some involving the royal family. They say the new law could lead to an increase in corruption.
“Electronic websites helped uncover many cases of corruption,” Mohammed Abadi from Watan News told The Media Line. “Now the ground will be paved for corruption to spread across all official levels.”
Online sites and social networking across the Middle East played an important role in the Arab spring, although Jordan has been mostly free of these large demonstrations. The King has reshuffled his cabinet several times in the face of public protest.
A group of media websites and the writers union issued a statement charging that the new legislation seeks to muzzle the press and silence government critics.
"The law means to restrict media freedom, cover up corruption cases and de-publicize pro-reform activities," said the statement published this week.
They also promised to challenge the law in court as unconstitutional.
Human Rights Watch said the law provides a vague definition of “electronic publications” that would be subject to the law. It defines an electronic publication as “an electronic site on the Internet with a fixed address that offers publication services, including news, reports, investigations, articles, comments,” potentially includes sites registered abroad, and in any language.
According to the law, the government has the right to block websites that are either unlicensed or deemed to be in violation of any law, and to close the website’s offices, if they exist, without providing a reason or obtaining a court order.
Meanwhile, the government described the law as a necessary to streamline electronic media
“The law protects people’s rights by ensuring that freedom of expression is practiced in a responsible manner,” said Information Minister Samih Maayatah. “It encourages news websites to be more professional and helps enhance the media.”
He said the law will help disentangle propaganda from news and bring media under rule of press law.
"The new law will allow online media to be treated in the same manner as newspaper and other print media, instead of being subject to the penal code," the minister told The Media Line.
Government officials privately accuse some electronic websites of attempting to destabilize the social fabric of the country through racist comments made against Jordanians of Palestinian origin.
"The government and the palace want to settle scores with some websites that crossed the red line and accused people close to the king with corruption, although those accusations turned out to be false," a former senior official who did not wish to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue told The Media Line.
Pro-reform journalists said the law seeks to muzzle the press in a country plagued by charges of corruption including nepotism and vote rigging.
"The pressure is mounting on high ranking officials after the discovery of a series of corruption cases by some of the sites," said journalist and media advocate Mohammad Fadel.
Jordanian authorities are struggling against a wave of protests by opposition parties, including the Islamist movement, in the build up to parliamentary elections later this year.
The Islamist movement joined ranks with leftist parties in a decision to boycott upcoming elections in protest against elections law and lack of guarantees over free and transparent elections.