Within the changing framework of the cyber world is the dangerous world of cyber crime. Thus, it is imperative for judicial authorities world-wide to formulate laws and keep its laws updated in order to protect the public’s cyber security. The Jordanian government has recently approved a new and stringent cyber crime law. Jordan’s “Information Systems Crime Law of 2010” contains 18 articles dealing with the complete spectrum of cyber crime. Articles in said law have defined acts of cyber crime across the whole continuum, dealing with minor offenses such as unauthorized access to computer material, to more serious crimes such as identity and credit card fraud. The major Articles of Jordan’s “Information Systems Crime Law of 2010”are as follows:

Hacking of and Unauthorized Access to Private Content:

–         Article 3(a): The unauthorized access to law protected computer information without lawful authority, in the form of internet websites, or information systems, is punishable by jail for a period of no less than 1 week to 3 months, and/or payment of a fine of no less than 100 to 200 Jordanian dinars.

–         Article 3(b): Whoever in a circumstance described in subsection (a) of Article 3 knowingly and without lawful authority, gains unauthorized access to law protected computer information resulting in the distortion, erasing, destroying of computer information, or the illegal copying of said information, is punishable by jail for a period of no less than 3 months to 1 year and/or payment of a fine of no less than 200 to 1000 Jordanian dinars.

–         Article 4: The production, use and distribution of electronic computer programs that results in to gain unauthorized access to law protected computer information, resulting in the distortion, erasing of said information, or the illegal copying of said information is punishable by jail for a period of no less than 3 months to 1 year and/or payment of a fine of no less than 200 to 1000 Jordanian dinars.

Internet Financial Fraud:

–         Article 6(a):  The unauthorized access, through information systems of credit card information, or documents pertaining to financial and e-banking records is punishable by jail for a period of no less than 3 months to 2 years and/or payment of a fine of 500 to 2000 Jordanian dinars.

–         Article 6 (b): Whoever in a circumstance described in subsection (a) of Article 6 intentionally gains unauthorized access through information systems, of credit card information, or documents pertaining to financial and e-banking records, knowingly with intention to defraud, or retrieve information relating to monetary and banking transactions is punishable by jail for a period of no less than 1 year and/or payment of a fine of no less than 1000 to 5000 Jordanian dinars.

Obstruction of Public Morality:

–         Article 9 (a): The distribution, or sending of explicit content or content against public morality, relating to or affecting persons under age 18, is punishable by payment of a fine of no less than 300 to 5000 Jordanian dinars.

–         Article 9 (b): The use of information systems to exploit, sell, distribute, produce of explicit content or promote content against public morality, or the prostitution, or coercion into performing explicit acts of persons under age 18 is punishable by jail for a period of no less than 1 year and/or payment of a fine of no less than 1000 to 5000 Jordanian Dinars.

National Security and Terrorism:

–         Article 11: The use of information systems to promote terrorist ideology, or the use of such systems to contact groups of known terrorist activity is punishable by hard labor.

–         Article 12 (a): The use of information systems to obtain legally protected content pertaining to the national security, public safety, national defense, or content pertaining to the foreign relations or economy of the kingdom of Jordan is punishable by jail for a period of no less than 4 months and/or a fine of no less than 500 to 5000 Jordanian Dinars.

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