Despite the fact that it is located in the middle of a region of conflict, Jordan has managed to remain safe and it’s still one of the best options to discover what the Middle East has to offer. For centuries, visitors have been captivated by Jordan’s beautiful landscapes, world heritage treasures and hospitality. The Roman Ruins, the majestic deserts and of course, Petra, the ancient city that is one of the world’s most valuable wonders, are some of the reasons to go to Jordan. The country has a modern infrastructure and it is easy to travel though it. However, people in Jordan faces challenges that affect their freedom to access information and to express their opinions. While elections are held to elect the lower house, since Jordan is a hereditary monarchy, the king has the last world when it comes to the laws implemented.
The press is subject to strict regulations and journalist are often threatened. Civil liberties are heavily restricted and many people have been arrested for making public comments that are seen as critical of the state or in favor of militants. In 2016, Nahed Hattar, a writer and political activist was charged with blasphemy after sharing a satirical cartoon on Facebook, that was considered as offensive to Islam. Later on, Hattar was killed outside the Palace of Justice while he was on his way to a court hearing. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37465656 Although the Jordanian authorities publicly condemned the murder, they stated that Hattar had broken the law by sharing the cartoon. The charges show how the Government of Jordan applies strict measures to control the content that is shared online. There are mechanisms in place that are designed to make sure that ISPs, the media and other sectors are involved in the implementation of regulations and policies to target online freedom of expression.
It is estimated that over 6 million people use the internet in Jordan, which is well over 50% of the population and it is one of the higher percentages in the region. While censorship in Jordan is not as strict as in other nations in the Middle East, given the strict laws and regulations, most users opt for self-censorship fearing that posting certain content or expressing certain opinions may lead to questioning and arrest. In addition, there are hundreds of websites blocked in Jordan, mainly news and sites that focus on political content that are deemed as a threat to national security. At some point, even the popular Internet Archive (Archive.org) was blocked in Jordan. If you are in Jordan and come across restrictions that stop you from accessing certain websites or content, or if you want to protect the privacy of your online activities, using a VPN service is crucial.
With the help of a VPN you can use the internet anonymously since your real IP address is concealed. Others will only see the IP address of the VPN server you are connected to, meaning that tracing you will be very difficult. Since you can connect to servers in different countries, you can bypass censorship and geographical blocks. A VPN gives you the chance to enjoy websites and services that are not available in Jordan, including popular content on streaming services. Furthermore, a VPN encrypts your online traffic, keeping it protected from eavesdroppers. Even if your ISP, the government or hackers try to see what you do online, they won’t be able to find out what websites you visit or what you say in your conversations because the data will be impossible to read. A VPN allows you to enjoy online freedom and to discover content from around the world.
Here are the VPN services that we recommend for users in Jordan.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has servers in over 90 countries and it offers incredibly fast speeds, as well as reliable performance. ExpressVPN allows you to get around restrictions and enjoy streaming services without problems, even when you are traveling. Another great aspect about ExpressVPN is its highly secure encryption that keeps your data protected from online threats. With ExpressVPN you can enjoy privacy when you are browsing the internet. They don’t keep logs of your online activities and offers an excellent customer support. ExpressVPN also stands out thanks to its user-friendly, high quality software.
IPVanish
IPVanish offers high security as well, and thanks to the fact that it is in charge of its own network of servers, it is capable of offering great speeds and stable service. They have network in over 60 countries, including practical locations for users in Jordan who want to bypass local restrictions and access content with freedom. Like ExpressVPN, IPVanish is an excellent option to enjoy streaming services. In addition, they offer a high level of encryption that prevents other parties from seeing what you do online. IPVanish is a no logs VPN service.
VPNArea
VPNArea strives to offers high security and ease of use. Its network of servers and the advanced technology supported, will allow you to defeat restrictions and enjoy access to a wider selection of content. VPNArea’s protection against DNS leaks and IPv6 leaks, as well as their anti-WebRTC feature, will help you to keep your real IP address hidden from eavesdroppers. VPNArea provides a high standard of security and it gives you access to servers in more than 60 countries, including options that allow users in Jordan to defeat restrictions and enjoy good speeds. No logs of your online activities are kept.
NordVPN
NordVPN is the perfect choice for anyone who wants top security to keep their internet traffic protected from threats like surveillance and hacking. Their advanced security features will allow you to keep your information protected. NordVPN is a zero logs provider based in Panama, which is a great location for privacy since no mandatory data retention laws are in place. You can connect to servers in more than 50 countries and if you want to take security to the next level, you can opt for double VPN encryption or Tor over VPN.
