Fourteen global human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Access Now, and ARTICLE 19, have joined forces against Jordan's cybercrime bill and urged its government to rescind this "controversial legislation".

The organizations agreed that the bill - if passed in parliament- could undermine online free speech, jeopardize internet users' anonymity and pave the way for increased online censorship.

The draft law, designed to replace Jordan's 2015 cybercrimes law, consists of 41 articles and has faced criticism for its broad and vague language. 

Among the key concerns is the potential criminalization of content critical of law enforcement officials, inhibiting open discourse and public criticism.

The proposed law could also give authorities the power to order websites and social media platforms to remove content deemed to have violated the law, further limiting free expression.

Additionally, the bill introduces penalties for circumventing IP addresses, possibly targeting encryption tools like VPNs and Tor, which could hinder online anonymity and limit the expression of political opponents, human rights defenders, and investigative journalists.

The draft legislation also seeks to exert greater control over social media platforms, requiring companies with over 100,000 subscribers in Jordan to establish local offices, subjecting them to government demands and potential penalties for non-compliance.

Rights groups stress that the proposed law falls short of international human rights standards, and they urge Jordanian legislators to engage with civil society groups and explore alternative approaches to address concerns around hate speech and disinformation without compromising digital freedom.