The King of Jordan approved a cybercrime bill that will crack down on online speech deemed harmful to national unity, a bill opposition lawmakers and human rights groups have warned against.
King Abdullah II gave his approval on Saturday with the bill now slated as law and set to take effect one month after it is published in the state newspaper Al-Rai, which is expected on Sunday.
The legislation will make certain online posts punishable with prison time and fines.
Posts that could be targeted include those seen as “promoting, instigating, aiding, or inciting immorality,” demonstrating “contempt for religion,” or “undermining national unity.”
Before the parliament’s vote, 14 rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, said in a joint statement the law is “draconian.”
“Vague provisions open the door for Jordan’s executive branch to punish individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression, forcing the judges to convict citizens in most cases,” it said.
Human Rights Watch said in a 2022 report authorities increasingly target protesters and journalists in a “systematic campaign to quell peaceful opposition and silence critical voices.”
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