HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement Releases New Report: “Eyes Everywhere: State Surveillance of Human Rights Defenders in Jordan“
This report sheds light on the escalating digital surveillance of human rights defenders in Jordan over the past five years and its detrimental impact on civil space and human rights. Digital surveillance encompasses monitoring mobile devices, wiretapping networks, and tracking personal accounts, particularly on social media platforms, exposing defenders to immense pressure and threatening their fundamental rights.
The report is based on comprehensive research, including data collection, analysis, and documentation of digital surveillance cases. It provides an integrated view of how Jordanian authorities use advanced tools, such as the Pegasus spyware, to target human rights defenders. The report also highlights legal challenges, focusing on the reliance on vague laws, such as the Cybercrimes Law and the Anti-Terrorism Law, which grant authorities broad powers to restrict freedoms and target critical voices.
Although the Jordanian Constitution and the Personal Data Protection Law theoretically guarantee privacy protections, the report uncovers significant loopholes and misuse of laws to justify widespread surveillance. It also documents attacks on civil space, including the targeting of human rights activists by monitoring their movements and communications.
In its conclusion, HuMENA offers a series of recommendations to the Jordanian government, including conducting an independent investigation into the use of spyware and establishing accountability mechanisms to ensure justice for victims. The report also calls for repealing repressive laws, such as the Cybercrimes Law, and ending the intimidation of human rights defenders. Additionally, it provides recommendations to technology vendors and social media companies to enhance user privacy and digital security
