Akeed - Aya al-Khwaldeh 

The number of rumors that started and spread during May 2020 increased to 51, up from 49 rumors recorded in April.

Akeed monitored 38 rumors during May related to the repercussions of coronavirus, accounting for 74.5% of all rumors spread in the month. The remaining rumors were related to security and economic issues with no relation to the virus.

Social media sites were responsible for the spread and promotion of most rumors during May, and a total of 38 rumors were documented on those platforms, accounting for 74.5% of all. The role of media outlets in the promotion of rumors also increased, as these outlets were responsible for promoting 13 rumors in May, or 25.5% of the total.

The source of the rumors: internal or external?

Akeed used a quantitative and qualitative methodology to address the subjects of the rumors spread through news websites, social media platforms, and media outlets, and found that 48 of the rumors spread in May originated within Jordan, whether via social media accounts or news sites, accounting for 94.2% of the total. Meanwhile, 3 rumors, or 5.8%, originated outside the country.

Rumors sources according to the method of publication

Through Akeed’s monitoring, it was found that 38 rumors originated via social media platforms, or 74.5% of the total. 37 of them came from local social media accounts, or 97.3%. One rumor, meanwhile, came from the social media account of a Jordanian abroad, making up 2% of the total.

The number of rumors promoted by the media was 13, or 25.5%, 11 of which came from local outlets, accounting for 84.6% of those rumors. Two rumors were spread by Arab and regional media outlets, accounting for the remaining 15.4%.

Content of the rumors

The number of rumors connected to security and social issues was 8 for each category, or 15.7% each, while the number of rumors that dealt with health issues was the highest, at 13 rumors, or 25.5%. During May, 11 rumors that are related to public affairs were recorded, accounting for 21.5% of the total. May also witnessed the spread of 6 rumors about economic issues, or 11.8%. Rumors about political issues, meanwhile, accounted for the smallest portion, at 5 rumors that made up 9.8% of the total.

From social media to media outlets

During May, 3 rumors spread from social media outlets to news sites, accounting for 5.8% of the total, representing a decline from April, when 4 rumors were spread from social media to news outlets, making up 8% of that month’s total.

Local news sites spread news about the government’s intention to reopen mosques, after social media accounts circulated a post labeled “breaking news” containing information attributed to the Information Office at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Holy Places. The post discussed a decision by the ministry to open mosques for all group prayers starting on Wednesday, May 27, while abiding by health regulations and safety measures. This was denied by the ministry's spokesperson, Hussam al-Hyari, who clarified that the ministry had not issued any decision related to the re-opening of mosques.

The most prominent rumors: a breakdown by topic

Below are the most prominent rumors that Akeed monitored, which were spread widely through social media and news outlets, according to the topics designated by Akeed.

Rumors related to public affairs

Starting in May, Akeed Media Credibility Monitor used a new classification for rumors related to issues of public affairs, such as education, labor unions, and decisions about official and national holidays.

Among the public affairs related rumors that were spread recently through social media sites was one about Aqaba, claiming that the city had experienced an earthquake the morning of Thursday, May 7th, which was denied by the head of the Jordan Seismological Observatory. The observatory said it had not recorded any earthquakes in Aqaba, and that observatory is the only outlet with official authorization to report local seismological activity.

Local media outlets and social media users also spread information about the weighting of grades in the public secondary school program, which was denied by the Ministry of Education. The ministry stated that everything that was circulated was inaccurate, as the Public Testing Board will later confirm the final weighting.

The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Muhyieddeen Touq, stated that news shared concerning the issue of automatic passing of university students at Jordanian universities was misleading and taken out of context, adding that the decision of the Council for Higher Education to use electronic exams was taken with the agreement of all its members, as well as the presidents of public and private universities.

Rumors related to the health sector

There was a variety in the rumors related to the novel coronavirus, its repercussions, and the procedures taken in that concern during May. One rumor that was spread by social media users alleged that 15 Jordanian travelers returning from Switzerland failed to quarantine. Minister of State for Media affairs Amjad Adaileh confirmed that everyone returning from outside Jordan is subjected to a 17-day precautionary quarantine at designated sites.

Local news sites spread a report about the entry of 245 cross-border drivers to the Kingdom without undergoing coronavirus testing, including an infected driver in Mafraq governorate. Adaileh, stated that those drivers' entry into the kingdom occurred before April 10, before it was mandatory for drivers returning from outside Jordan to follow testing procedures, a decision that was implemented following the first discovery of an infection among cross-border drivers. He added that the infected driver in Mafraq governorate was tested for the virus at the border, and the results were negative.

Economic rumors

Among the most prominent economic rumors during the month of May was one spread on social media, which showed a photo of an official letter published by the Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu al-Saud, which included an increase in the price of water starting April 1st. This was denied by an official spokesperson for the ministry, Omar Salama, who explained that there was no increase in water prices, and that the book contained information on standardizing the pricing of water units across provinces, but did not raise the price per square meter for anyone.

Local news sites also published information about a private school’s failure to pay its teachers’ salaries for the past three months, and accused the Ministry of Labor of ignoring the issue. The ministry's spokesperson, Ghaida al-Awamla, stated that the school in question had been found to be in violation of the law, and that the case was referred to the public prosecutor.

Political rumors

Among the most prominent political rumors that were shared during May, which was widespread on social media, was about the government’s alleged intention and forthcoming decision to open Jordan’s borders on June 20th, without quarantining arrivals. This rumor was denied by official authorities that said these reports are inaccurate, and that no decision had been made on that issue.

Government authorities also denied rumors that the government appointed a research institution, owned by an employee at the Prime Ministry, to conduct polls on citizens’ confidence in the decisions taken by the government during the coronavirus pandemic. Government authorities said that there was no truth to these rumors.

Social rumors

One of the social rumors that were spread at the start of May, and which Akeed denied, was spread by a regional news source, claiming the death of the first Minister of Media in Jordan, the journalist Salah abu Zaid. His son clarified to Akeed that his father was doing well, and in good health, and that these rumors had no truth to them.

Another rumor connected to social issues in May alleged that the director of the Prince Hamza hospital, Abdulrazzaq Khashman, held an Iftar feast. Khasman denied the rumor, which claimed there was more than 50 people in a narrow hall in the hospital. He explained that what happened was a work meeting for directors of the hospital’s different departments, totaling 21 people, and everyone broke their fast alone in their offices.

Security rumors

Security authorities denied a number of rumors during the month of May. Among the most notable was a video, widely-shared on social media, of a large number of cars in Nour Al-Urdon Square for seized vehicles, claiming that the vehicles detained there were seized in accordance with defence orders. These claims were denied by Amer Sartawi, the official spokesperson for the Public Security Directorate, who said that this square has been in operation for years, acting as a location for the detainment of vehicles seized according to legal proceedings and court orders.

Security services also denied an allegation that someone was subjected to abuse within a detention center, and was photographed during an inspection. The security services referred to the cameras within the detention center while explaining that his claims were false, and that he was treated according to established guidelines.