Amman: Experts in law and digital media said on Monday that a recent cabinet decision to finalize legislation regulating the media sector's modernization aims to streamline professional digital media work and ensure transparency and fairness without infringing on freedom of expression.
According to Jordan News Agency, the new legislation lays out a legislative framework governing media and advertising in the digital space that serves the public interest and stakeholders. It distinguishes between professional and unprofessional media and non-professional publishing, and protects digital media from hate speech and misinformation. This regulation contributes to professionalizing and regulating digital media, providing opportunities for sound development, protecting investment in the sector, regulating the use of AI applications, and ensuring ethics in media content.
Furthermore, the legislation safeguards public rights and enhances the protection of intellectual property rights in the media business. Dr. Mahmoud Al-Rajabi, Associate Professor of Digital Media at Middle East University, remarked that "the draft legislation is a positive step towards establishing a legislative framework for the professional digital environment and addressing rumors, fake news, hate speech, and privacy violations." He emphasized that its success depends on precise definitions, clear jurisdiction boundaries to prevent overreach at the expense of freedoms, and effective implementation.
Dr. Al-Rajabi proposed that licensing be restricted to professional media work, excluding personal activities, and that accreditation should be based on a genuine quality assessment. Lawyer Sakher Khasawneh echoed similar sentiments, stating that introducing a system to regulate digital media is crucial to controlling the market, given the diverse commercial, advertising, artistic, and other content platforms. He noted that the regulation involves ensuring content compliance with laws, maintaining privacy, protecting copyright, and preventing incitement of hatred and social norm violations.
The regulations aim to document and monitor pages and platforms, including revenue and funding sources, with regulating artificial intelligence being a significant step. It lays the groundwork for setting ethical and legal guidelines for AI use. The Jordan Media Commission has posted information on its website about the regulations, indicating that a license is required for all activities currently licensed by it in various media fields when practiced digitally and professionally. Activities are deemed professional if they are a source of income and are continuous or regular, with a specialized committee reviewing applications and deciding on licensing or accreditation eligibility.