Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali, the final regional conference for the project "Strengthening Prevention and Response Mechanisms to Online Hate Speech in Jordan" was held on Wednesday. The event saw the participation of the Minister of Government Communication and Government Spokesperson, Mohammad Al-Momani, along with international partners and relevant institutions.
اضافة اعلان
A Comprehensive Approach to Digital Challenges
During his keynote address, Al-Momani emphasized that confronting hate speech in the digital space is no longer an option but a priority that requires a comprehensive approach. This approach must be based on partnership and the utilization of modern tools to enhance social awareness and the public's ability to distinguish between responsible content and misleading or provocative material.
He noted that hate speech has evolved from a marginal phenomenon into a complex challenge that demands innovative tools and a "new awareness" given the rapid transformations in the digital world. "A word in this space is no longer just an expression; it is a system that takes shape, spreads, and reproduces itself," Al-Momani stated.
Balancing Freedom and Protection
The Minister highlighted several key pillars of the national strategy:
Responsible Media: Following Royal directives, Jordan continues to consolidate professional and objective media discourse that respects pluralism and human dignity.
Media Literacy: Strengthening media and information literacy is essential for building an informed society.
Legal Balance: Al-Momani pointed out the need for a delicate balance between protecting freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the Constitution, and addressing content that incites violence, discrimination, or exclusion.
Integrated Roles: He stressed the necessity of cooperation between the government, media outlets, social media platforms, and civil society organizations.
International and Strategic Perspectives
Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador of the European Union to Jordan, stated that the project highlighted the needs of ordinary internet users and aimed to protect citizens from negative digital practices. He noted that the goal is to provide policymakers with the necessary data to manage this process effectively.
Saba Yasin, Project Manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), remarked that the digital space has become an arena where narratives are built and divisions are sometimes sown. She added that harmful content can spread with unprecedented speed, directly impacting social cohesion and individual security.
Panel Discussions and Recommendations
The conference featured a panel discussion moderated by Iyad Al-Jaber, founder of "I Dare" for Sustainable Development. Participants included:
Lt. Col. Ahmad Abu Al-Foul, Head of the Community Peace Center at the Public Security Directorate.
Dana Shaqam, CEO of the Jordan Media Institute.
Haya Al-Awayda, Head of the Government Media Agenda Department at the Ministry of Government Communication.
Hussein Al-Saraira, Program Director at the Politics and Society Institute.
The discussion focused on national responses, institutional coordination, and regulatory approaches. The conference also included working groups to develop recommendations and a session presenting the National Framework for Combating Digital Hate Speech.
The regional conference was organized by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) in Jordan, "I Dare" for Sustainable Development, and Saba Hamlet, with funding from the European Union.
