Jordan: JOSA denounces internet censorship in new telecommunications law

According to the news section of its website, the Jordan Open Source Association (JOSA) has formally requested that the Jordanian government remove articles in its draft Telecommunications Law which would allow the government to impose censorship and otherwise control access to the internet. The request was included in a list of suggestions submitted to the Jordanian Ministry of ICT in respect of the draft telecommunications law. The suggestions also included integrating more open web and net neutrality principles into the law.

JOSA stated that this is the first time the Jordanian cabinet has been given such powers, dealing a heavy blow to internet freedoms in the country. JOSA’s president Issa Mahasneh, stated: “The law according to this draft intends to give a legal cover to the Government to decree censorship guidelines, giving the Government the power to decide what Jordanian citizens can access on the Internet or not.”

Mahasneh also deplored the attempt to include an article forbidding ISPs from permitting access to adult material. JOSA has suggested alternatives for safer access to adult material without government intervention, such as the use of content-control software by network administrators in public offices, schools, and universities, as well as the provision of a family-safe internet service by ISPs. JOSA is adamant that it is not the government’s place to decide what content is suitable for Jordanian citizens and advocates a citizen-driven approach using freely available parental control software.

On the other hand, JOSA has welcomed new articles in the draft law that increase fairness and competitiveness in radio spectrum management and advocates freeing more of the radio frequency spectrum to serve new innovations in the field.

Hat tip: Glyn Moody