Jordan approves cybercrime bill despite rights groups

Jordan's parliament on Thursday approved a cybercrime bill despite warnings from rights groups and civil society that it would curb freedom of expression in the kingdom.

The bill was approved by the house of representatives following a public session, with some of the proposed penalties reduced from an initial draft version, though prison terms remain a possibility for those found to be in violation of the law.

The bill must also be approved by the senate before being ratified by King Abdullah II and published in the official gazette.

It came after 14 non-governmental organisations on Monday issued a statement describing the new bill as "draconian" and saying it would "pave the way for an alarming surge in online censorship".

The organisations, including Human Rights Watch and digital civil rights group Access Now, warned that it would "jeopardise digital rights, including freedom of expression and the right to information".

The bill stipulates that those found to be "spreading false news" online could face a penalty of no less than three months in prison and fines ranging between 5,000 and 20,000 Jordanian dinars (about $7,000-28,000).

"False news" is defined as anything that "affects social peace and national security".

Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh said during the session Thursday that the "government does not present anything that would violate or contradict the constitution", which guarantees freedom of expression.

The government is "completely open to any form of criticism", he added.

The Jordanian government had referred the draft bill to parliament for discussion with a view to amending a 2015 cybercrime law.

Dozens of journalists on Monday had staged a protest in front of their union to voice their objections to the bill.

On Sunday, a group of Jordanian activists, journalists and political figures launched an online campaign rejecting the draft bill and describing it as an "obituary for freedoms".

Hundreds of politicians and journalists last week signed a statement calling for the law to be scrapped, describing it as the "greatest threat to public and press freedoms".