Database

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JORDAN

Since 2015

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Sub-pillar Adoption of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce
UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Jordan has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for any activity other than copyright infringement
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Jordan's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

Reported in 2019, last reported in 2023

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar User identity requirement
Mandatory SIM card registration
Registration for a SIM card is mandatory in Jordan. Anyone wanting to purchase a SIM card has to provide their national ID card or a passport in case of foreigners to activate a new prepaid SIM card.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

JORDAN

Since January 1998, as amended in 2012, last amended in 2015

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Monitoring requirement
Law No. 8 of 1998 on Press and Publications
(قانون المطبوعات والنشر رقم 8 لعام 1998)
The Press and Publication Law No. 8 of 1998, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2012 on Press and Publication, imposes liability on intermediaries for the content posted on news sites, leaving outlets potentially responsible for readers’ comments. Art. 49 of the Law states that both the editors-in-chief and the owners of online publications are legally responsible for all content posted to their sites, resulting in a monitoring requirement. Moreover, websites must refrain from publishing any “untruthful” or “irrelevant” comments.
Coverage Online News

JORDAN

Reported in 2018, last reported in 2023

Pillar Content access  |  Sub-pillar Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Blocking of commercial web content
It is reported that the government periodically blocks websites and social media platforms, sometimes without justification. For instance, since 2015, the government has blocked access to messaging apps on the days when secondary school students sit for their national exams (Tawjihi). By 2018, the number of blocked apps had increased to seven, including WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter, and Instagram. In 2022, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission mandated that internet service providers (ISPs) block communications platforms for a few hours daily to prevent cheating during exams; however, these restrictions are confined to locations near examination halls and typically last for about two hours each day. In March 2021, the government blocked Clubhouse, an audio-only social media app, across several major ISPs, and it remained inaccessible as of June 2021, though some users managed to access it via censorship circumvention tools. Later, in December 2022, authorities blocked TikTok amid protests by truck drivers against fuel price increases. Although the government described this as a “temporary ban,” TikTok remained blocked until the end of 2023, during which time the platform committed to removing over 300,000 videos that violated community guidelines. Furthermore, in 2023, hundreds of news websites were reported to have been blocked for failing to obtain a license. Additionally, specific VPNs that allow users to bypass censorship have also been blocked in the past, with the government’s actions often described as lacking justification.
Coverage Social media, messaging apps, and VPNs

JORDAN

Reported in 2023, last reported in 2024

Pillar Content access  |  Sub-pillar Presence of Internet shutdowns
Presence of Internet shutdowns
The government has reportedly shut down the internet multiple times in 2023. Authorities have carried out internet shutdowns during protests and continued their annual practice of disrupting access to messaging applications during high school exams. Internet users and digital rights groups have reported daytime disruptions to internet services for at least 10 days of 2023, with restrictions also affecting mobile internet services.
In addition, the indicator "6.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 3 in Jordan for the year 2023. This corresponds to "Rarely but there have been a few occasions throughout the year when the government shut down domestic access to Internet."
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

Since January 1998, as amended in 2012, last amended in 2015

Pillar Content access  |  Sub-pillar Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law No. 8 of 1998 on Press and Publications
(قانون المطبوعات والنشر رقم 8 لعام 1998)
Art. 49 of Law No. 8 stipulates that electronic publications – which publish news, press reports, press releases and comments relevant to the domestic or external affairs of Jordan – must be registered and licensed with the Media Commission, which was previously named the Press and Publications Department. The registration and licence requirements apply to all electronic publications irrespective of their location of operation. Electronic publications owned by individuals who reside outside Jordan or who have administrative offices outside Jordan are also subject to the provisions. In addition, one of the requirements for a general news site to obtain a license is to have an editor-in-chief who has been a member of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) for at least four years (Art. 23/A/1). On the other hand, Art. No. 13/A requires that to grant a license to issue a press or specialised publication, it must be registered as a company in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law in force. In 2019, 45 news sites were blocked after failing to obtain licenses - however, many of these sites have since successfully applied for licenses, and their access has been restored.
Coverage Online News

JORDAN

Since June 2001

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Law No. 28/2001 on Commercial Agents and Intermediaries
(قانون الوكلاء والوسطاء التجاريين رقم 28 لسنة 2001)
According to Art. 6 of the Commercial Agents and Intermediaries Law No. 28/2001, foreign firms should import goods by appointing an agent registered in Jordan. The agent may be a branch office or a wholly-owned subsidiary of a foreign firm. The agent’s connection to the foreign company must be direct, without a sub-agent or intermediary.
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

N/A

Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Open and transparent standard-setting process
Lack of transparency in standard setting
It is reported that technical standards (Jordan Quality Mark) are published in the Jordan Official Gazette in hard copy only and are registered in the Jordan Quality Mark database. Businesses need to purchase from the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation (JMSO) for the Jordan Official Gazette as well as a disk with the Jordan Quality Mark database.
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

Since 2018

Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Self-certification for product safety
Instructions for Granting Conformity Certificates No. 2 of 2018
(تعليمات إصدار شهادات المطابقة للعام 2018)
The Instructions for Granting Conformity Certificates No. 2 of 2018 mandate that imported goods are subject to mandatory verification through laboratory testing approved by the Directorate of Conformity Certificates at the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation (JSMO) and in accordance with its internal procedure. It is reported that approved laboratory testing is exclusively in Jordan. The JSMO undertakes these responsibilities by cooperating with approved labs, including those at the JSMO, Ministry of Health, Greater Amman Municipality, Ministry of Agriculture, and Royal Scientific Society, all of which perform inspection and testing.
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability for copyright infringement is absent in Jordan's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

Since May 2000

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Effective protection covering trade secrets
Law No. 15/2000 on Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition Law
(قانون المنافسة غير المشروعة والأسرار التجارية رقم 15 لسنة 2000)
Jordan has established a legal framework that effectively safeguards trade secrets through Law No. 15/2000 on Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition. Arts. 5 to 7 of this Law delineate fundamental principles concerning the protection of trade secrets. Art. 5 affirms the rights of individuals who lawfully control trade secrets, enabling them to disclose, utilise, and protect these secrets from any form of misuse. Art. 6 characterises the misappropriation of trade secrets as the unauthorised acquisition, use, or disclosure of such secrets in contravention of fair commercial practices. This provision specifies particular violations, including breaches of contract and inducements to violate trust, while clarifying that individual access or reverse engineering does not amount to misuse. Finally, Art. 7 empowers the lawful controller of trade secrets to seek compensation for damages resulting from misuse and to initiate legal actions aimed at halting misuse, seizing misappropriated items, and preserving relevant evidence.
Coverage Horizontal

JORDAN

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Requirement of passive infrastructure sharing
It is reported that there is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Jordan to deliver telecom services to end users. Passive sharing is practised in both the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

JORDAN

Reported in 2015, last reported in 2023

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
The telecom sector is dominated by three major players: JTG (Orange Jordan), Zain Jordan, and Umniah. The incumbent carrier JTG was privatised in 2000 and made an initial public offering in 2002, with France Telecom acquiring a majority share in 2006. Currently, the company is majority-owned by France Telecom, operating as Orange Jordan, while the Jordanian government maintains a 29% stake through the Social Security Corporation.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

JORDAN

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Requirement of accounting and functional separation for dominant network operators
It is reported that Jordan mandates functional and accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

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