Effect of Article 11 of the Jordanian Electronic Crimes Law on Exercising Criticism Freedom for Journalists and Workers in the Digital Media

Abstract

This study aims to know the impact of the Jordanian Electronic Crimes Law No. 27 of 2015 on the freedom of the press and the freedom to exercise criticism in the digital media represented in websites and social networks.The study uses the descriptive method to survey the opinions of journalists, employees and activists in digital media field through a governed survey. The sample was randomly selected 150 individuals interested in studying their opinions and studying the effect of the law on their freedom of practicing criticism in many websites and social networks .The study found that 88% of journalists and workers in the digital media suffer from restrictions on their press freedoms through the censorship imposed by the editor and also through the penalties imposed by the Electronic Crimes Law regarding publishing crimes. In addition, an average of 75% of those who saw clear imbalances in the Electronic Crimes Law never corresponded to the freedom of the journalist in criticism. The results also showed that journalists and employees in the digital media are aware of the freedom of criticism and related supervisory roles. Are aware of their rights and duties in this regard with an average of 75% of the total knowledge, and 46% expressed their disagreement with the arrest of journalists in accordance with article 11 of the Electronic Crimes Law.

Keywords: Criticism of Electronic Crimes Law Article 11, Freedom of Information in Jordan.

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/85-07

Publication date:May 31^st 2019