Akeed – Aya Al-Khawaldeh

A total of 59 rumors were documented during September, marking a slight increase compared to the 53 rumors registered in August. Akeed attributes the continued rise in rumors to the increasing number of coronavirus cases, and the government measures subsequently taken toward secondary and university education.

The topics of September rumors varied, most of them revolved around the health sector and the recording of new coronavirus cases. There were also many rumors concerning the official suspension of the on-campus schooling due to a rise in coronavirus cases, as well as old videos and publications that were reposted as allegedly recent footage. 

Notably, in September the number of rumors propagated by the media declined. Whereas media circulated 20 rumors in August (38% of the sum total), this number dropped to 16, or 27%, in September.

Rumors sources according to their origin

Akeed utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the topics of rumors spreading among online news sites, social media platforms, and media outlets. It found that 54 rumors, whether on social media platforms or news websites, originated within Jordan. These accounted for 91.5% of all rumors documented this month, while 5 rumors (8.5% of the total) originated outside Jordan.

Rumors sources according to the method of publication

Akeed found that 41 rumors, or 69.5% of the month’s total, originated on social media. All of these were published on local social media platforms.

The number of rumors propagated by media outlets stood at 16, which accounted for 27.1% of the total. Local media outlets had published 10 of these rumors, or 69% of them, while regional Arab media outlets circulated 5 of them (31% of the total). 

In September, Akeed identified two rumors emerging from official sources, amounting to 3.4% of the total. These were shared widely on social media platforms and media outlets before being corrected by the same official authorities.

Rumor topics

The number of rumors related to the health sector stood at 25, or 42.4% of the total, while the number of rumors regarding social and security issues was almost equal; the 7 security rumors constituted 11.9% of the total, with the 6 rumors related to social issues representing 10.1%. There were 8 economy-related rumors, or 13.5% of the total, and 9 public affairs rumors accounting for 15.3%. The least common topic was politics, with 4 political rumors making up 6.8% of the total.

From social media to media outlets

In September, four rumors made their way from social media accounts to news sites, or 6.8% of all rumors documented during the month. This was close to the number of rumors that spread this way in August, when 3 rumors were transmitted to the media and constituted 5.7% of the total that month.

Local news sites cited false information from Facebook concerning precautionary measures taken toward “Hijazi and Ghosheh Company” and “Sameh Mall”. One media outlet verified this information and found that there was no connection between these companies and reports of a businessman defaulting on an amount totaling 100 million dinars and the seizure of his investments.

Likewise, a news site committed a professional violation in publishing information circulating on social media about a woman infected with the coronavirus in the Jordan Valley serving coffee to the Minister of Health Saad Jaber during his tour of inspection in the region. It became clear that she was not the same woman, and that this information was incorrect.

Most prominent rumors by topic

Below are the most prominent rumors that “Akeed” monitored, and which spread widely across social media platforms and media outlets, according to the topics designated by “Akeed”. 

Public affairs rumors

In the beginning of May, “Akeed” delineated a new classification for rumors relating to public affairs issues, such as primary, secondary, and university education, labor unions, and decisions about official holidays.   

Among the most prominent public affairs rumors were those refuted by official authorities: “20 dinars paid out to students in Jordanian schools,” contained information which authorities clarified was incorrect. The Ministry of Education likewise refuted, via its official Twitter account, the existence of an experimental vaccine for the coronavirus that will be provided to primary school students. It explained that periodic vaccines  are given annually by school health offices, according to the nationally approved vaccination registry and for the protection of students from tetanus, polio, and other diseases.

Among the education sector-related rumors in September were the false links circulated by social media accounts which alleged that students and teachers were to receive free computers. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship issued a press statement declaring that “these links are incorrect and do not represent any governmental or official authority.”

Health rumors

In September, there was a variety of rumors related to the novel coronavirus and the subsequent events and measures. “Akeed” monitored 14 of the 28 health rumors, which revolved around new coronavirus cases being recorded in multiple governorates as well as the infection of public figures with the disease: a new case in Tafilah governorate; coronavirus infections among personnel at Prince Faisal Hospital; coronavirus infections among workers at the Ein al-Basha Medical Center; recording of coronavirus cases in Al-Ramtha court; emergence of coronavirus among the nursing staff at Ma’an Hospital; infection of Amman governor Saad Shehab with coronavirus. All of these stories have been disproven.

Economic rumors

Among the most prominent economic rumors that Arab media outlets propagated in September concerned the reopening of the Jaber border crossing. A local official source denied the validity of this information, emphasizing that the crossing remains closed and will not be opened until after the necessary health arrangements have been made. 

Among the rumors that were spread by local news sites, and which were refuted by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, was one about the imposition of a new buildings tax. The Ministry explained that this tax had already been put in place in the law--at the rate of 3%, paid once a year on every building -- and that it had not been recently adopted.

Political rumors

One political rumor that was spread in September alleged that parliamentary elections would be held over the course of three days, for the purposes of social distancing between voters and to ensure their safety. This was refuted by the official spokesperson for the Independent Electoral Commission, Jihad al-Momani, who stressed that elections would be held in accordance with the law: in a single day, with only a two-hour extension.

For his part, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Daifallah al-Fayez, denied  the accuracy of what was published on Arab news sites regarding a Jordanian company's violation of the arms embargo on Libya. He clarified that the company is neither Jordanian nor registered in Jordan, and has no presence on Jordanian territory.

Social rumors

Among the social rumors that spread during September was one circulated by leading social media accounts about the encryption of Jordan TV channels beginning in 2021. The Director General of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, Muhammed Balqar, refuted this claim, and explained that the rumors surrounding Jordan TV were “morally reprehensible, and any offender will be prosecuted under the law”.

Security rumors

Security officials refuted several rumors over the course of September, including one published by local news sites that quoted Arab media outlets about the kidnapping of a Jordanian who was working as a branch director for the Mercedes automotive corporation in a neighboring Arab country; this was refuted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

Among the most prominent security-related rumors was a false breaking news story published by a local newspaper about a bomb explosion in Zarqa governorate and alleged deaths and injuries that occurred as a result. It relied on an old statement by the Public Security Directorate issued on September 19th, 2019, which reported the deaths of two people and injuries to three others due to the explosion of an old  bomb that was among the leftover remnants of internal security units in the Ghabawi area of Zarqa. 

Many Arab satellite channels and local media outlets cited the old press statement without verifying its accuracy. The Armed Forces General Command then announced that the explosion which occurred in an old ammunition deposit currently being dismantled in the area of al-Tafih, near Zarqa resulted in material damage only and that no casualties were caused by it. The General Command stated that the explosion was a result of an extreme rise in temperatures, which triggered a reaction in the chemical substance present in one of the mortar fillings that in turn led to the explosion.