Jordan: New restrictions on Internet cafés and violating privacy of users

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information denounced today decisions released by the Jordanian ministry of interior increasing restrictions on internet cafés in Jordan, on pretext of maintaining security, through installing cameras to monitor users of these cafés. The Network also emphasized that these procedures are considered as a real retreat from freedom of internet and the right to exchange information.
The Jordanian ministry of interior has recently issued new instructions for monitoring internet cafés widespread all over the Jordanian cities, as it enforced internet cafés owners to install cameras to the front of their cafés in order to identify the users of these cafés.
In addition to the cameras, we find that security decisions are also enforcing internet cafés owners to register the users' personal data such as their names, phone numbers and time of use, as well as the IP number of the café and data of websites explored by the users.
The newly-issued decisions of "organizing the work of internet cafés" also included enforcing internet cafés owners to install censorship programs to prevent access to websites containing pornographic material, or an affront to religious beliefs, or promoting the use of drugs, tobacco.
It is worthy to mention that Jordan is one of the most Arab countries that internet cafés are widespread on a large scale.
Even Shafiq Rashidat Street (Unversity Street) in Irbid City, has been registered in Guinness Book of Records in terms of the highest number of Internet cafés in one street.
This street contains more than 130 cafés although the street length is not exceeding 2000 meters.
An earlier report of the Arab network had expressed cautious optimism on Jordan, as the decisions of "organizing the work of internet cafés and centers" were more flexible in the past, regarding terms & conditions that have to be available in these centers and the effort exerted to expand the number of internet users.
The Arabic Network while denounces such decisions which violate right of exchanging information and privacy of internet users, is calling the Jordanian government to retreat from such arbitrary decisions which would precipitate involving Jordan among the countries which are hostile to freedom of internet.
For more information:the internet in Jordan (2004 report),visithttp://www.hrinfo.org/en/reports/net2004/jordan.shtml
the internet in Jordan (2006 report),visit

http://www.openarab.net/en/reports/net2006/jordan.shtml