Akeed – Majdi Qsous

37 rumors were documented in January, a noticeable decrease from December when 44 rumors had been recorded.

In examining rumors from January, there was a noticeable similarity in the number of rumors that each topic generated. There were 10 economic rumors making up 27% of the total for the month, while there were 8 rumors about political and security issues, respectively (each comprising 22% of the monthly total); these were followed by 6 social rumors that made up 18% of the total.

Rumor 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 networks, and media outlets. It found that 35 of the rumors in January originated from within Jordan, whether via social media platforms or from news outlets. These accounted for 94.5% of all rumors documented in this month, while just 2 rumors (5.4% of the total) originated outside Jordan.

Rumors sources according to the method of publication

Akeed found that 24 rumors, or 65% of the month’s total, originated on social media. Only 2 of these (8% of the total) were published on foreign social media accounts, while the remaining 22 (92% of the total) were published on local accounts.

The media propagated 12 rumors, accounting for 32% of the total, all of which were issued by local media outlets.

In January, Akeed tracked just one rumor that emerged from official sources. This rumor alleged that the head of the Atomic Energy Commission, Khaled Toukan, had made appointments years ago as part of a deal with a member of parliament, in exchange for an end to debate around the organization’s portfolio. Toukan denied the rumor and emphasized that the story was false, as there are regulatory bodies that track such issues—notably the Audit Bureau, which did not observe violations of this kind.

Rumor topics

The most common rumor topic in January was the economy, followed by political and security-related rumors. There were 6 social rumors, making up 16% of the total for this month, followed by 3 rumors about the health sector (8% of the total) and 2 about public affairs (5% of the total rumors).

Migration of rumors from social media to media outlets

In January, 4 rumors (11% of the month’s total) migrated from social media platforms to news sites. This was slightly fewer than the number of rumors that spread this way in December.

Local news sites circulated misinformation from social media alleging that a member of parliament had one of his sons appointed to the Civil Status Department. The government refuted this rumor, indicating that the person in question had been appointed to this department in 2013, and last year was made secretary of the Borma district office.

 

Local news sites committed a professional violation in publishing misinformation circulating on social media about riots that were said to have broken out in Al-Wehdat Camp amid celebrations of Al-Wehdat Sports Club’s victory in the Professional League Championship. A security source denied this rumor, saying that although a number of people had gathered to celebrate after the club's victory, they were dispersed by security services without injuries being incurred.

Most prominent rumors by topic

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

Public affairs rumors

 

At the beginning of last 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 and national holidays.

Among the rumors that circulated on news websites in January and generated substantial attention were those dealing with education. They published information about the Ministry of Education allegedly issuing an “automatic pass” for those students who did not take the “Darsak” platform exams. The Ministry’s media spokesperson denied that such a decision had been issued, saying that they had left it to teachers themselves to evaluate students after returning to in-person education. The Ministry had made this decision given that teachers are best-suited to make this decision in whatever way they deem appropriate, not through the issuance of an “automatic pass.”

 

Health rumors

 

In January, there were a variety of rumors on events and policies related to the novel coronavirus. Akeed monitored 3 such rumors, a marked decrease for this topic from the previous month.

 

Social media users shared a truncated photo in which they claimed that the coronavirus vaccine to be used in Jordan had been made in advance. It later became clear that the image was of an aqueous solution known as bacteriostatic water and which is used to dilute certain vaccines.

 

Among the rumors that the media helped circulate was one which alleged that two new coronavirus vaccines were to be approved in Jordan. The claim, which turned out to be false, was attributed to Dr. Munir Abu Hilaleh, a member of the National Vaccination Advisory Committee (NVAC). Dr. Abu Hilaleh explained to Akeed that during the interview he had not mentioned any new vaccines being approved in Jordan. He emphasized that the approval and licensing of vaccines or medicines are tasks for the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), not the NVAC.

 

Rumors about the impact of the coronavirus in Jordan included one circulated by media outlets about infections among JFDA employees. This was denied by JFDA Director-General Dr. Nizar Muhaidat, who said that news sites were incorrect in claiming that a woman who had contracted the virus was a JFDA employee. He stressed that the woman in question works as a pharmacist in the private sector and whose only transactions with the JFDA consist of administrative appointments and procedures as a result of her occupation.

 

Security Rumors:

 

Over the course of January, security and government officials refuted a number of rumors. Among these was a video circulating on social media showing two children being abused and tied up with a rope. The media spokesperson for the Public Security Directorate confirmed that the video had been recorded outside of Jordan, as the Family Protection Department had worked to ascertain where it had been filmed and the location of the children immediately upon receiving the video. After being contacted and shown the video, the father confirmed that his children were living with their mother outside Jordan.

 

There was also a rumor about the alleged abuse of a minor in Irbid governorate, as was depicted in a video circulating on social media. The Public Security Directorate media spokesperson said that an investigation had led to the minor admitting that he had stabbed himself to incriminate a person with whom he previously had a dispute; and that the incident as it was being circulated on social media was “fabricated.”

 

The Director of the Center for Crisis and Security Management, Brigadier General Mazen Al-Faraya, also denied that the platform in place for registering land crossings into Jordan had been suspended or cancelled. As Al-Faraya explained, this platform was implemented as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic to inform the Center about how many travelers are arriving at each border crossing. This information, in turn, helps the relevant authorities deal with the pandemic and conduct the necessary preparations for receiving travelers at each crossing, in accordance with health protocols mandated by the coronavirus.

 

 

Economic Rumors

 

Some of the most prominent economic rumors from January included those circulated by social media users about a 25% increase in the price of SIM cards in Jordan, a halt on pay increases for public sector workers, and the imposition of new deductions and taxes. The government denied this on its “Your Right to Know” platform, saying that Defense Order No. 24 (issued on December 15, 2020) has to do with preserving the stability  of Jordanian private-sector workers and easing the economic burdens on private-sector enterprises; and that it had been published as soon as it was issued.

 

The government also denied that a new coin had been issued. Minister of Culture Dr. Basem Al-Tuwaisi explained that although a new coin will indeed be issued bearing the centenary slogan of the Jordanian state, it is only commemorative. As such, he stressed, it will not be used or circulated on the market.

 

An official source at the Central Bank denied that interest rates had been raised on borrowers. He stressed that a decision of this kind is only made by the central bank, and barring that decision private banks are not allowed to raise or lower interest rates. Hence, the previous decrease by 1.5% is still in effect. The Central Bank said that private banks are required to implement whatever policies it decides upon, as the entity responsible for managing monetary instruments in Jordan.

 

The government also denied a rumor alleging that a member of parliament had one of his sons appointed to the Civil Status Department. It said that the person in question had been appointed to this department in 2013, and last year was made secretary of the Borma district office.

 

The Acting Director-General of the Department of Lands and Survey, Dr. Muhammad Al-Sawafin, denied that any tribal lands had been awarded or had their ownership transferred to individual citizens. These “tribal fronts” were designated for grazing based on agreements between tribes. They are owned by the state treasury, and their ownership may not be transferred to anyone.

 

Political rumors

 

Among the political rumors that spread on social media platforms in January was misinformation about the government's intention to merge the Civil Service Bureau with the Institutional Performance and Policy Development Department (IPPDD). Minister of State for the Department Rabiaa Al-Ajarmah refuted the news of this move, which she said was not under consideration.

 

Minister of Culture Dr. Basem Al-Tuwaisi also denied that the Royal Cultural Center had been closed. He confirmed that "the Center remains in operation. All that has happened is the elimination of certain defects in the administrative system, which had been kept the same for many years."

 

Media outlets circulated misinformation regarding an alleged decision by Parliament to begin addressing female representatives in terms that explicitly mentioned their gender. The Parliament’s media office denied this rumor, saying that it was “[...] untrue and has not been discussed at all.”

 

Media outlets published articles claiming that the government had amended portions of the text of a ministerial statement on Palestine that Al-Khasawneh government had presented to the Parliament.  This later turned out to be false, with the Minister of State for Media Affairs Ali Al Ayed emphasizing that no aspect of the statement had been changed. The paper version of the ministerial statement that was read by the president, he said, was completely identical to the electronic version that was published: "there is video and audio evidence of this, which was reported by the Jordan News Agency and broadcast live by many media outlets."

 

Among the political rumors circulating on social media was an article published on several accounts stating that "Jordan has agreed to Germany’s request that it take in refugees deported by the German government for serious crimes." The media spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dhaifallah Al-Fayez, told Akeed that this information and the stories surrounding it were completely false.

 

Social rumors

 

Social rumors from January included one shared on social media about alleged negotiations for the coach Moatasem Salama to take over the management of Al Wehdat SC’s basketball team. Al Wehdat SC Basketball Director Dr. Hatem Abu Malesh denied that any such negotiations had taken place, and stressed the club’s continued confidence in the current technical staff led by coach Yusef Abu Bakr and his assistant Faisal Al-Nsour.

 

Rumors circulating on Whatsapp included one about an "unprecedented snowstorm to hit the Levant over the weekend.” This story was attributed to Russia Today, but later it was later found that the very same text had been previously published by the media in 2013, 2014, and 2016.