"Jordan’s Cybercrime Law to Limit Investments and E-Commerce"

...Jordan’s government embraced the National E-Commerce Strategy in April 2023, pursuing a “competitive and globally recognized national economy.” However, with its unrealistic demands from tech companies and citizens alike, Jordan’s newly issued cybercrime law is expected to thwart any efforts to fulfill the kingdom’s economic ambitions...

In contrast, the Cybercrime Law necessitates communication platforms beyond Jordan’s borders with more than 100,000 subscribers in the Kingdom to set up offices within Jordan. Unlike some neighboring countries which do so for economic incentives, this requirement is stipulated not for financial reasons but rather to facilitate responses to requests from official judicial authorities, as indicated by Article 37 of the Cybercrime Law. According to the Meta Transparency Report, Jordan ranks among the top countries in soliciting information from social media companies.

If platforms do not comply with the aforementioned requirements, the government holds the authority to take action after six months from the date of notification. It can impose a ban on advertisements on these platforms and gradually decrease the bandwidth of internet traffic directed to them for a duration of 60 days. This decrease in bandwidth is executed progressively, starting at 25% and gradually escalating to 75%, as outlined in the same article...

[T]his situation could also place considerable stress on employees within these companies. He points out Article 25 of the Cybercrime Law, which designates the page administrator as liable for unlawful content. This provision holds the page administrator legally accountable in cases where offensive comments regarding any product they are promoting appear on their pages...

The repercussions of Article 25 of the Cybercrime Law [..] stretch beyond the realm of marketing and commercial activities. Ahmed Awad, the director of The Phoenix Center for Economics and Informatics Studies, a Jordanian institution dedicated to research and advocacy for human rights, particularly in the social and economic domain, highlights that this impact will permeate the work sector. This includes domains such as trade union activities. Such provisions will likely have implications for freedom of expression and opinion, as conveyed to SMEX.

Awad elaborates that this specific article “will curtail the efforts of union activists seeking their right to establish unions. The vague provisions could also empower employers to coerce workers into withdrawing their demands for improved working conditions.” ...

The research unit at SMEX comments on the law, noting that at least five articles directly impede freedom of expression (Articles 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20). Notably, prohibiting media websites could lead to numerous Jordanian journalists losing their jobs...

Jordan’s government had blocked various platforms and websites, including Al-Hudood, 7ibr, and TikTok. The enactment of the cybercrime law is poised to wield considerable influence over the digital landscape and social interactions...