[Infowarrior] - Jordan amends cyber crimes law after media outcry

[Richard Forno]

Jordan amends cyber crimes law after media outcry
Aug 29 01:49 PM US/Eastern
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Jordan on Sunday approved a temporary law on cyber crimes after amending it to appease the fury of journalists who said the legislation was a means to control local news websites.

The law had initially allowed the authorities to raid and search offices from which websites are published and to access computers without prior approval from public prosecutors.

But under the new amendments approved by the government, searching such offices requires court permission and enough evidence that these places are used to commit cyber crimes, Information Minister Ali Ayed said.

Journalists have complained that one of the articles of the law banned sending or posting data on the Internet or any information system that involves defamation or contempt or slander, without defining such crimes.

"That article was removed because these crimes have been already tackled in other laws," said a statement posted on local news websites, adding that "the amendments came in line with King Abdullah II's directives."

"Other changes removed all parts that could be used to affect press freedom and freedom of expression."

The statement quoted Ayed as telling a group of journalists that the law "never targeted local news websites and that the amendments came to clarify things, remove any misunderstanding and make sure the law is implemented the right way."

"The government has consulted several experts, including the National Centre for Human Rights and the Jordan Bar Association, before amending the law."

International and local rights organisations had added their voices to journalists and opposition parties, including the Islamist movement, in harshly criticising the new law before its amendment.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had urged King Abdullah II to veto the law, saying it gave authorities "sweeping powers to restrict the flow of information and limit public debate."


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