Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - State Minister for Media Affairs, Mohammad Momani, has said that the government respects media freedom, including social networks, as a factor of the strength and resilience of the society.

He told social media activists that the government is interested in maintaining and protecting these outlets, but vowed it would not tolerate that a few use social media to foment hate speech and sedition and spread malicious rumors and lies, which undermine social peace.

Momani said social networking outlets fall under the communications law since they are available to all citizens, not only to journalists, noting that the law criminalizes any behavior that is undisciplined and in violation of the regulations.

"Social networking should not be a tool to destroy societies and disseminate hate speech among the people, just as it is not worthy of the Jordanian society nor of its consciousness to spread lies and malicious rumors through these outlets", Momani warned.

The minister, who is also government spokesperson, stressed that a sensible and disciplined use of the websites would make them a tool to communicate, build communities and spread the values of good and love among people.

He also urged journalists and the social media to verify and authenticate reports, stressing this task as a responsibility for all.