Akeed –Aya Khawaldeh

The number of rumors continued an upward streak, rising to 48 in September compared with 42 in August and 43 in July. In May and June, the number of rumors stood at 35 and 36 consecutively, a report by Jordan Media Monitor, Akeed, showed.

Figures for September also revealed that mainstream media played a smaller role in circulating rumors; it was responsible for sharing 8 rumors down from 18 in August and 12 rumors in July.

A total of 21 rumors during the month revolved around the teachers’ strike, which began on Sept. 5^th, the study noted. Half the rumors in September were related to politics, while security issues were not a popular topic for rumors.

For the purpose of the analysis, which is conducted every month, Akeed developed a methodology for detecting rumors. In this report, a rumor is defined as “incorrect information pertaining to a Jordanian public affair or to Jordanian interests circulated among over 5,000 people via digital media.”

It is worth noting that, typically, rumors flourish during turbulent times; e.g. crises, wars, and natural disasters. This does not mean that rumors will not spawn when things are normal. It is also widely known that rumors fly high in certain social, political, and cultural environments. Their reach also depends on the level of mystery engulfing them as well as the importance and impact of their subject, according to the online portal.

Rumor Sources 

Akeed’s quantitative and qualitative analysis examined rumors circulated across news websites, social and mainstream media. It emerged that the majority of rumors (44 representing 91.7% of the total) came from local sources. This compares with only four rumors, representing 8.3%, from outside Jordan.

Dissemination Medium

September figures showed that 40 rumors, or 83.3% came from social networking sites; 38 of which originated from local social platforms and only two rumors initially appeared on Arab social networks and web pages run by Jordanians abroad.

Eight rumors spread from mainstream media during the month in question, six of which came from local media outlets and 2 by Arab media outlets.

Rumor Topics

Fabricated stories revolving around political issues accounted for half of the rumors in September - totaling 24 rumors. Ten rumors, or 20.9% were related to social issues and eight fake news were related to economic issues. Rumors about security issues came in last place, with only 6 rumors representing 12.5%.

From “Social Networks” to Media Outlets

Six rumors, or 12.5%, spread from social networking platforms to news websites in September which is close to the August figures – 7 rumors representing 16.7%.

Images showing a mosque loudspeaker with bullet holes were among the widely-circulated rumors by local media outlets in September. Akeed cross-checked the images, which first appeared on Facebook pages outside Jordan, and showed that the shooting incident took place in Maysan Governorate in Iraq on April 23^th. The images were initially posted by local news websites in Iraq, according to Akeed.

Several news website were also quick to spread information posted by a journalist, meant as a joke, on his official Facebook page where he wrote that “the 50% pay increase for teachers has been approved”. The media shared the news given that it came from a “reliable source”. The incident prompted Jordan Teachers Syndicate (JTS) to dismiss it as incorrect. The journalist later clarified that it was merely a joke.

A video that harms teachers’ activism, posted on a fake Facebook account of Secretary General of the Islamic Action Front Engineer Murad Al-Adayleh, was also shared by news websites without verification. In statements to the press, Al-Adayleh explained that the account was fake.

A hand-written table showing the percentages of pay increases granted to teachers based on their grades – which were approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Premier on Sept. 29^th - turned to be incorrect. Yet, the news was circulated by news websites. The Premier announced the correct figures in a televised interview.

Likewise, media outlets circulated an official letter issued by the Ministry of Education stating that teachers will not be allowed to take unpaid leaves, effective Sept. 25^th, 2019. The post, which first appeared on social media, linked the decision to the teachers’ strike. The Ministry’s spokesperson Waleed Al-Jallad explained that this is an administrative procedure that is taken by the Ministry at the beginning of each scholastic year.

Key Issues and Rumors:

Rumors around Economic Issues:

• A news report that dates back to 2012 which claimed that the staff of the Social Security Corporation (JSC) enjoy privileges including bonuses and the thirteenth and fourteenth-month pay. The report was rejected by the SSC, which noted that starting 2012, the Civil Service Bylaw applies to all SSC staff and that employees enjoy none of these privileges.
• The bankruptcy of Safeway Jordan and its heavy debt was the subject of another rumor. The company, which runs several branches in major cities, quickly denied the story noting that the company owns property and real estate worth over JD120 million – a major cushion against any insolvency.
• A fabricated report which quoted Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati as saying that the price of Iraqi oil was higher than the price of other imported oil. The official took to her twitter account to deny the news, explaining that importing oil from Iraq will not affect the pricing of oil derivatives locally.
• A government decision to lower the prices of more than 81 food and non-food items. It turned out that these were discounts offered by the Civil Consumer Corporation on dozens of items in its markets.

Political Rumors

• A fake news story carried by the Saudi daily Okaz which claimed that Saudi Arabia has suspended payments for road maintenance activities at the desert highway, which stretches between the capital Amman and Ma’an. The Ministry of Public Works and Housing denied the information contained in the report noting that the project was well under way with a progress rate that reached 60%.
• An unsubstantiated report about an administrative dispute between Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) and the Ministry of Interior over a transaction related to an investor. A press release issued by the JIC noted that the commission and all other state agencies were constantly cooperating with each other and that they all share the same goal: serving citizens and investors.

• A widely circulated report about statements allegedly given by former Prime Minister Taher Al-Masri about who Jordan’s next prime minister will be. The former official responded by saying that he does not have the information to make such statements.
• A report shared by local and Arab news websites which quoted MP Musa Hantash as saying that Algeria proposed to provide Jordan with all its natural gas needs at preferential prices. The Jordanian government turned down the offer for unknown reasons, continued the report. Algeria’s ambassador to Jordan said the news was groundless.

Social Rumors:

Key rumors that were shared on social media and media outlets:

• A 12 year old image of a technician falling asleep on a utility pole on Amman-Jerash highway.
• A video clip of a man violently beating a toddler, allegedly in Jordan. The Public Security Department explained in a press release that the incident took place in a neighboring country, not in Jordan, and that the perpetrator holds an Arab nationality. 
• A rumor claiming that the Ministry of Culture bought one thousand copies of a book titled “In the Service of Two Kings” written by former Prime Minister Fayez Al-Tarawneh. The Ministry dispelled the news story, noting that any purchases by the Ministry should be done through the Studies and Publishing Directorate in accordance with effective bylaws, and based on supporting reports from specialized committees.

Security Rumors:

• A video purportedly of a girl being kidnapped in Abdoun, which was later rebuffed by the security services. Security sources explained that the men shown in video with the woman were her husband and brother.

Teachers’ Strike:

• A rumor claiming police dogs were used during teachers’ protests near the fourth circle on September 5^th.
• A rumor alleging that troops were deployed to Abdoud bridge to prevent teachers from reaching the fourth circle area. Security sources explained that the soldiers who appear in the image are from the “Desert Brigade”, which is part of the PSD.
• A fake news story saying the deputy head of the JTS was arrested during the teachers’ protests, which was later dismissed as baseless by the PSD.
• Allegations that the government approved the 50% pay rise demanded by teachers.
• Fabricated reports saying the JTS decided to end the strike. The concerned authorities were quick to debunk the rumor.
• Unverified information which claimed the government demanded that the JTS satisfies certain conditions before it approves the teachers’ pay rise.
• A report saying the government was holding meetings to find a solution to the teachers’ problem, including a meeting between the government and the teachers with Qatari mediators. The latter report was denied by the Qatari embassy in Jordan.
• Images allegedly linked to the teachers’ demonstrations. While some of these images turned out to be old, some had nothing to do with Jordan, according to Akeed. Other reports published figures that claimed represent the amounts that will be paid by the government to teachers as a pay increase, which were swiftly rejected as baseless by Premier Dr. Omar Razzaz.

In dealing with content produced by social media users, Akeed believes the general rule is to stay away from sharing posts until the content is verified through a reliable source. Dependence on social media users as a source of news without taking into account the accuracy of information leads to the spread of false information and rumors, explains Akeed.

Furthermore, the fact-checking portal has published a set of fundamental principles that help verify content, whether visual, written, or audio, produced by users. Before taking a decision to share any content, a set of questions should be raised, advises Akeed.