So, experts, Ahmad, Nas, Khalaf, what does this mean?
By Taylor Luck
AMMAN – Despite its rapid rise to prominence as a major source for citizens’ news, electronic media cannot be fully governed under the Kingdom’s current laws and regulations, experts said on Monday.
To debate over the role of the electronic media and discuss potential regulations for the sector, media and legal experts gathered yesterday for a two-day conference on “New Media Law and Policy” hosted by USAID’s Jordan Media Strengthening Programme (IREX).
Internet websites have developed rapidly in the Kingdom, according to Jordan web expert Ahmad Humeid, who noted what had started as a handful of blogs in English some five years ago has now evolved into a collective effort to provide the latest news across the country in Arabic.
Despite concerns over the medium’s accuracy and accountability, the demand for traditional news, according to Humeid, will continue to decrease.
“People across the world no longer wait for news,” he said, adding that individual regulation, rather than that of laws, is needed in the sector.
Jordan Bar Association President Saleh Armouti stressed that laws and regulations are needed to rein in the sector, which, he said, endangers national unity by promoting anonymous character defamation and slander. He also called for the reinstatement of the abolished ministry of information to regulate and monitor the entire media sector.
Well, that is enough to scare a freedom of speech advocate off a screen. Wonder what those laws would look like?
I found this next part interesting, as I didn’t know we bloggers already had official ‘governance’. Does this also mean bloggers would be responsible for their commenters?
Instead, the legal expert said the medium falls under three different laws: the Penal Code, the Telecommunications Law and the Electronic Transactions Law.
Article 73 of Penal Code provides penalty for work displayed in public or made accessible to the public that is criminal in content, he said, noting that the law was used in the case of inappropriate comments placed on Al Balad Radio’s website.
The Telecommunications Law governs bloggers, Qteishat said, as it covers the “transmitting and reception of data” over different means, including electronically, and that some news websites would fall under the Electronic Transactions Law.
Under a draft Telecommunications and Media Law, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) would combine with the Audio-Visual Commission in order to streamline licensing processes and regulations, TRC Chief Commissioner Wafa Bayaydeh told the meeting.
Read it all here
December 2, 2008 at 10:35 am |
This feels again like there’s a disjointedness between the King’s desire for open conversation and the government’s desire for control. I guess at the point that they define bloggers as journalists (are they really going to consider tales of first grade art projects and dog vomit as news?!) we’ll have some decisions to make, hunh? Me, I’m not a journalist. If I were I’d be getting PAID, right (or are they going to pay us too, teehee)?
December 2, 2008 at 10:49 am |
Sigh, MommaBean, yes indeed ‘disjointedness’. At least HM is pulling for us.
Yes, giggle, if our topics become ‘news’, we know Jordan has a bigger problem than we can fathom. I dunno, reporting ‘grammar crime’ could become slander?
If we get the label, the LEAST that should happen is getting paid from SOMEWHERE.
December 2, 2008 at 12:22 pm |
Oh my. That article was very vague and just barely a hint at what things might come. Poor Taylor must have had a hard time coming up with what he did write based on the release… Another good reason I don’t have a blog even though I support you guys 100% and your right to write! InshAllah khair.
December 2, 2008 at 1:02 pm |
Um Omar, yes, vague is hhhmmm interesting. LOL, I thought about how Taylor pulled out what he did, too!! Really, your blogging reticence stays in my mind and I keep it there as a warning. Shukaraaaaaaaaaaan :O
December 2, 2008 at 1:15 pm |
Just the phrase ministry of information sounds ominously big-brotherish, but information is already censored for politically, religiously, legally forbidden ideas by the committee for audio visual media. The same committee who stopped a new Jordanian TV channel from coming to life recently. I wonder will the committee have to approve blogs now ?
December 2, 2008 at 1:23 pm |
Next step, ministry of thought with a committee sponcered by his majesty. The idea of regulating freedom defies gravity..But we in jordan defy natural laws..I wonder if queen rania’s youtube channel is also covered by the possible “regulation”..
December 2, 2008 at 1:54 pm |
Mohanned, I like that, “We in Jordan defy natural laws”. I also wondered if being under the same ‘umbrella’ as HM’s YouTube channel would help?
BUT…as I reread what Ahmad wrote about the decrease of traditional media, knowing demand will increase for this type, it seems inevitable that control of one form or another is coming. :O
December 2, 2008 at 3:36 pm |
We all knew it’s coming. The honeymoon of bloggers is going to end sooner or later and when that ceiling of civil liberties comes down, you better make sure your last name is in the.. well.. “proper” form!
In otherwords, ALLAH YUSTOR!
December 2, 2008 at 5:37 pm |
“The honeymoon of bloggers”….LOL
Oh poor “blogger”….all that insight and courage in striking the most sensitive of issues is now going to be “censored” and regulated. Ya 7aram.
Defamation laws should apply to everybody and only those whose main domain is sleaze and personal insults should be threatened by the application of the law.
As for “political censorship” …is there any serious online political activism that is really worth censoring?!…or are we worried about “the ceiling of civil liberties” being brought down on film reviews, cooking tips and “this one time…at band camp….” stories ?!!
December 2, 2008 at 7:06 pm |
Oversized Midget
Apparently, You’re too afraid to even mention your name… I wonder why!
December 2, 2008 at 7:40 pm |
By the way Mr/Ms Oversized Midget, When these liberties are lost, they’re lost for everyone. I might not have a lot to say that might eventually get me in trouble. But there are those who write amazing words, with a lot of value that isn’t meant as criticism but rather, out of love to the country. What will be of those? Are we going to find ourselves in situations similar to those of Syrian, Saudi, Egyptian and Iranian bloggers?
We didn’t have to fight much for these rights, but once they’re lost, we’ll know the real value of what we missed.
And by looking at Jordan’s track history, specifically in nepotism, corruption at all levels, would you want to end up in jail because someone knows someone who knows someone who got offended by your choice of words.
Anyway, I’m not really sure I got what you are talking about, but I hope I helped shed a light on one angle of concern
December 2, 2008 at 8:13 pm |
//stressed that laws and regulations are needed to rein in the sector, which, he said, endangers national unity by promoting anonymous character defamation and slander. He also called for the reinstatement of the abolished ministry of information to regulate //
Since I am no longer in Jordan, I am free to say what I will about this. But you are, so in a way, I am not free, because I do not want you to get into trouble. So I will hold my peace.
But I will say that it would be nice to see Jo blogger and others rise above their rhetoric and coffee shop chatter and actually stand up against these laws. DO something about it! You can’t say that Jordan is leading the field in moderation and democracy and all the rest of the propaganda the HKJ says about itself and then sit quietly while they do this to you. I am thankful everyday that I am not there, because I had a hard enough time “keeping my mouth shut” as it were.
December 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm |
this is too bad…thanks for the news though
December 3, 2008 at 12:32 pm |
I am afraid to mention my name because I suffer from multiple personality abnormalities with a severe homosexual tendencies…that’s why.
But great to see the self-appointed mayor and warden of Arabic “blogging” (Whatever blogging means) dedicate a whole “statement” explaining what and what is not acceptable and what and what is not important for people to write about.
That’s the kind of insight I was talking about.
December 3, 2008 at 3:26 pm |
Oversized midget, you have a point in that MOST of us blogging here in Jordan really aren’t in danger of getting in trouble for our political views. Not me, writing about puppy-pee.
Yet I would say most of us would write more politically if we weren’t afraid to. We see what has happened in other countries. I’ve had a little run-in myself when one of my ‘multiples’ tred on a taboo subject.
Mr. Qwaider runs his own aggregator-planet, he is entitled to have his own rules. Maybe you could start one? I don’t mind your anon status, since I am too.
Planet Mayor/Warden Qwaider, thanks for that response, well said. Your post was great, too.
Umm Zaid, I’d be honored to approve any comment you make here. I personally can’t believe what YOU have faced, for calling a spade a spade. for speaking truth! For calling people to own their own responsibility and stop blaming others. I CAN believe it, but I am SO sad for what it has cost your soul in grief. YOUR voice is such an important one….and the degree that you were shut down actually makes me ready to go back to America and be a greeter at Wal*Mart. (just not at Christmas)
December 3, 2008 at 3:26 pm |
DP, sorry missed you there…you are welcome.
December 3, 2008 at 10:26 pm |
Self appointed mayor? I didn’t appoint myself anything. I didn’t ask anyone to elect me. Nor have I projected my ideas against anyone. I just have my own[ideas]. Just like you have yours. Both of us have the right to accept, reject each other’s ideas!
I’m free to talk about what I want, go ahead, write about what you like to write about. It’s none of my business. But try to be a little mature and stop your personal insults and attacks, it’s so childish really.
December 4, 2008 at 9:42 am |
You know, the danger here is that those of us who do typically stay on topics that are fairly harmless have our moments… Who would have thought that a personal revelation I had while listening to a physchiatrist talk to parents would turn into a hot controversial topic? In fact, this type of topic, which asks really challenging questions about the status quo, is exactly what I worry about being censored. Would this be considered endangering national unity? When the point comes that no one is allowed to say anything that someone might construe as less than positive, I’m afraid my time in Jordan may have run out. I pray that is not soon…
December 4, 2008 at 11:37 am |
Qwaider, I think you are doing a great job.
MommaBean, I though of your post, and others where an innocuous thought becomes another persons insult. I remember when an editor pointed out I had ‘endangered national unity’ AND some other huge issue in an article seemed to me completely harmless. I join you in that prayer. :O