Legal panel discusses amended cyber crimes bill

Shaheennews – 

The Lower House’s Legal Committee on Monday began discussion of the 2018 amended cyber crimes bill in a session chaired by MP Hussein Qaisi and attended by Justice Minister Awad Abu Jarad, Human Rights General Commissioner, Mousa Braizat, and Jordan Press Association (JPA) President Rakan Saideh.

During the meeting, Qaisi said that the committee stands for media freedom and the individuals’ right to privacy and curbing hate speech, stressing that penalties are not the best solution in such matters and that the panel is concerned with easing the public’s worries and clearing up any misunderstandings surrounding the draft law.

Constitutional rights and freedom of speech are protected under the Constitution, he said, adding that the cyber crimes law does not seek to “gag mouths”.

The justice minister said that the bill comes in the light of the rapid technological developments in communication, which resulted in the “misuse” of such means in a way that affects the nation’s unity, pointing toward online scams, blackmail, and the spread of hate speech.

Braizat stressed the importance of media freedom as the Fourth Estate, and highlighted its role in combating corruption.

Saaideh stated that the bill is “unnecessary” because cyber crimes fall under the Press and Publications and Penalties laws.