Shboul discusses dangers, opportunities of social media

AMMAN — Minister of Government Communications Faisal Shboul on Sunday attended the national conference "Hate speech and misinformation: Impact and mechanisms for reduction", organised by Hayat Centre-Rased in cooperation with Democracy Reporting International. 

Shboul, who is also the government’s spokesperson, said that the massive developments in social media has given humanity an unprecedented opportunity to not only communicate with one another, but also to express themselves and present their opinions in accordance with international media company policies and new laws governing social media, without being subject to traditional media laws, covenants and professional rules.

Shboul praised Rased for launching an observation system charged with detecting hate speech, misinformation and rumours spread through social media in Jordan. The initiative is set to expand to other Arab countries in the future, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Council of Arab Ministers of Justice last year began considering an Arab bill to prevent hate speech, Shboul said, adding that Arabs now have a proposed definition of hate speech: "Any words or actions that stir sectarianism or strife or disseminate ideas that discriminate between individuals and groups".

The minister pointed out that crimes of defamation, vilification and contempt rank first in complaints and proceedings submitted to the competent authorities and courts in Jordan, noting that they represent nearly two-thirds of the crimes committed on social media, followed by crimes of threats, indecency and fraud.

The minister named false, fabricated or fake news as the “greatest threat to nations and societies around the world” at present, specifically when false news targets internal security, economic stability or political propaganda. 

Infringements of privacy, especially those that target women, children and the most vulnerable groups in societies, may lead to long-term consequences and immediate risks, especially in conservative societies, he added.

Shboul stressed the importance of strengthening the role of media in facing hate speech and misinformation, noting that one of the functions of the Ministry of Government Communication's administrative management system is to address rumours, hate speech and the privacy violations.

Over the past year, social media accounted for over JD81.139 million of the local advertising market, Shboul said, asking whether national media organisations accounted for such a sum.

For his part, General Manager of Rased Amer Bani Amer said that one-third of Jordanians' social media speech over the past year contained hate speech. He also noted that there was a “weakness” in alternative rhetoric against hate speech and misinformation.

Bani Amer also called for coordinated, enhanced efforts among all stakeholders to combat such rhetoric.