Khaberni - The Council of Ministers decided in its session held on Monday, chaired by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, to approve the justified reasons for the project of regulating digital media for the year 2026 and related amended system projects; as a preliminary step before sending them to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau, to complete the approval procedures accordingly, and thus completing the legislations that regulate the media updating process.
The decision included approving the justified reasons for the projects: an amended system for the broadcasting and rebroadcasting licensing system and the fees collected thereon for the year 2026, an amended system for licensing visible and audible classifications and their control for the year 2026, and an amended system for the fees and compensation of licensing printing presses, publishing houses, distribution houses, publishing and distribution houses, studies, research, public opinion measurement firms, translation agencies, advertising and propaganda offices, and periodical publications for the year 2026.
The Digital Media Regulation System project for the year 2026 aims to establish a comprehensive legislative framework that regulates digital media on clear bases, enhances Jordan's position in the regional and international digital media landscape, and supports the development of the digital media sector and investment in it.
The system project underwent consultations with a number of official entities and sectors and in-depth dialogues with civil society institutions, before being raised from the agency to the Council of Ministers which decided to approve the justified reasons and refer it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau, which will in turn publish the system project on its website according to the provisions of the regulating legislations.
The system will contribute to developing and organizing the digital media environment including the use of related modern technologies, to enable media institutions to operate within a clear and practical legislative environment that keeps up with the rapid digital development.
The system project considers that the digital tools owned by media institutions licensed by the agency before the enforcement of its provisions are not mandatory for licensing, while these institutions have the right to voluntarily accredit their communication tools in the digital space at the agency, provided that their general content is consistent with what is published through the print medium or television or radio station.
The system will also contribute to enhancing the protection of digital media work producers in various aspects such as enhancing intellectual property protection.
Furthermore, the system will enhance the quality of digital content and respect the rights of the audience receiving the media materials, and provides a legislative umbrella for the ethics of using artificial intelligence technologies.
The system project distinguishes between mandatory licensing and optional accreditation at the Media Agency, where it identified the activities that require obtaining a license from the agency, except for individuals who publish personal content on social media platforms, and obliges professional digital content creators to obtain a license if they engage in activities requiring licensing such as the advertising and production sector, while granting content creators not required to obtain a license the right to register their digital communication tools in the Media Agency records against service fees.
