Calls to scrap Jordan’s cybercrime law echo calls to reject cybercrime convention

In a number of countries around the world, communities, especially those who are already vulnerable, are being threatened by expansive cybercrime and surveillance laws. One such country is Jordan, where a cybercrime law passed in 2023 has been used against LGBTQ+ people, journalists, human rights defenders and those critical of the government.

We have has previously criticized this lawnoting how it was rushed out and without sufficient research into its legal aspects, social implications and impact on human rights. It criminalizes online content that is labeled “pornographic” or considered “public morality,” and bans the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and other proxies. Now, EFF has joined thirteen digital rights and free speech organizations in call again that Jordan would scrap the controversial cybercrime law.

The open letter, organized by Article 19calls on the Jordanian authorities to stop using the cybercrime law to target and punish dissent and to end the repression of freedom of expression. The letter also reads: “We also urge the new parliament to repeal or substantially amend the cybercrime law and all other laws that violate the right to freedom of expression and bring them into line with international human rights law.”

Jordan’s law is a disturbing example of how overly broad cybercrime laws can be abused to target marginalized communities and suppress dissent. This is the type of legislation that the UN General Assembly has raised concerns about, including in 2019 and 2021, when it warned against the use of cybercrime laws to target human rights defenders. These concerns are reflected through years of reports from the UN Human rights experts about how abuse of cybercrime laws facilitate human rights violations.

The UN Convention on Cybercrime poses a serious threat for freedom of expression. Far from protecting against cybercrime, the treaty risks becoming a vehicle for repressive cross-border surveillance practices. By allowing broad international cooperation on surveillance for any crime deemed ‘serious’ under domestic law – defined as crimes punishable by at least four years’ imprisonment – ​​and lacking robust safeguards or detailed operational requirements to ensure ‘no suppression’ of expression, the treaty risks being exploited by government to suppress dissent and target marginalized communities, as seen in Jordan’s overly broad cybercrime law of 2023. The fate of the UN Cybercrime Convention now rests in the hands of member states, which will vote on its adoption later this year.