Defamation, Slander and Contempt through New Media and Digital Platforms in Criminal Jordanian Legislation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.10330Keywords:
Defamation, slander, contempt, new media, Digital platforms.Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to examine the extent to which Article 15 of the Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2027 conflicts with the general provisions of the Penal Code, as well as to analyze its impact on the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed freedom of opinion and expression, particularly in light of the spread of digital platforms and modern media.
Methods: The study adopted a qualitative descriptive-analytical approach by reviewing relevant legal texts, analyzing their content, and comparing them with other legislations. Additionally, it utilized judicial precedents and scholarly opinions to provide a comprehensive perspective on the legal issues raised by the examined article, considering the developments in media and digital platforms. Furthermore, the study compared the constitutional regulation of freedom of opinion and expression in the Jordanian and Egyptian constitutions.
Results: The study concluded several key findings, most notably that the Jordanian Penal Code No. 16 of 1960 and its amendments addressed defamation, libel, and contempt as three separate offenses. In contrast, the Jordanian Cybercrime Law consolidated these offenses under Article 15, assigning them a single penalty and incorporating the offense of spreading false news.
Conclusion: The study recommended amending Article 15 of the Jordanian Cybercrime Law to distinguish between the three offenses and assign different penalties for each. It also suggested specifying a separate penalty for the offense of spreading false news, in alignment with the penal framework outlined in the Jordanian Penal Code.
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