Jordan orders online press crackdown

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    Date: 
    25 January 2010

    Jordan is to extend its Press and Publications Law to all online content including news sites and blogs, drawing criticism from media activists who believe that it will have a negative impact on internet freedom in the country.

    Global internet filtering watchdog OpenNet Initiative referred to Jordan as "beacon in a region of heavy Internet filtering", blocking only one site ArabTimes.com - a US-based online newspaper that often takes a critical stance against Arab leaders. That situation however is set to change as the country's Cassation Court has decided to bound online content to existing publication laws for traditional media.