Jordan- July 2023

On 27 July, Jordan's parliament passed a controversial cybercrime law which was subsequently ratified by King Abdullah II on 12 August. The legislation has received widespread criticism from opposition MPs, several rights groups, legal experts, and journalists, who argue it undermines free speech and independent journalism. The new law criminalizes certain online activities and imposes penalties for content considered harmful to national unity. Following the implementation of the law, a prominent journalist was sentenced to prison over a Facebook post expressing dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the demonstrations against fuel prices in late 2022, contributing further to concerns over shrinking civic space and restricted press freedom in Jordan.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, Human Rights Watch, Al Quds, International Press Institute, Middle East Monitor