"Jordan's King Enacts Controversial Online Speech Law Amidst Human Rights Backlash"

The King of Jordan has approved a bill that criminalizes online speech deemed harmful to national unity, drawing criticism from human rights groups who view it as a crackdown on free expression. The law allows for imprisonment and fines for posts promoting immorality, contempt for religion, or undermining national unity. It also prohibits the publication of names or pictures of police officers online and restricts online anonymity. Human rights groups argue that the law expands state control over social media, limits access to information, and penalizes anti-government speech. This is part of a broader trend of increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in Jordan, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.