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The security forces have captured a Jordanian – 24 years old – last Sept in Zarqa city while he was in a cyber cafe visiting a website for making fireworks. He was admitted to a State Security Court yesterday for the charge of possessing and manufacturing explosives. His charge sheet states that since 1998 he was visiting several internet cafes, where he downloaded all the necessary information from the internet for producing explosives. Then he would save it on disks and start experimenting at home. He was able to produce and try different explosives at home. He pleaded not guilty. Source : Al-Ghad (Arabic) , Jordantimes (English) [Hat tip: Firas]

With all my respect, regardless of the details of the story, and if that young man wants to make a bomb or not. The main question is:

1. Do you think monitoring the internet is vital to thwarting terrorist attacks in Jordan?

I say, No.

2. Wouldn’t it violate our civil liberties?

Yes it would.

Now, putting aside the US example, and let’s ask ourselves a question. Do we have in Jordan a law that protects our communication privacy? I'm asking because I seriously don’t know. In case we do, then do the security forces obtain a legal permission to monitor someone's lines of communication? If the answer is yes, then we are better than the US case here. If no, then we are in trouble.

Going back to the type of the communication. In telecommunications, it is very easy for any authorities to tape your line without you knowing on it. But do you think that terrorists (organized groups) are stupid enough not to use the freely available anonymizing tools? In case of the guy mentioned in the story, I guess he is a suspect, but not necessarily going to be convicted to do such thing. Maybe he did not intend to, but let's assume he did. Going to a public internet café and doing that search would be the most stupid thing a terrorist can do.

But we have to keep in mind that this guy must have triggered someone, some how in his search, because the news story says he was doing that since 1998, so why now? It could not have been that within few minutes of opening what he was searching for; the security comes and arrests him. He must have been monitored for several days/hours years. Because if that is not the case, then I can assume that thousands are about to be arrested this moment because they are reading on one of Al Qaeda’s published guides, or following one of their forums, etc…

Having said all that, first I doubt the details of Al Ghad and Jordan Times story. Second, we have to know more about the existing 'communication privacy law', if it exist. Third, we can't have 'freedom and civil liberties' while someone is monitoring our lines!

Did you ask yourself why the CIA didn't catch any of the team behind any of Al Qaeda's forums/websites (if they want to)? Because they can not trace them. It is not easy as its sound. Today technology is so advanced, not even the CIA can trace the origin of a public website!

On the other hand, what makes one a suspect? Visiting this site or reading that subject? Regardless, if it is making a bomb or how to hang a toilet paper roll (with the sheet over or under). We have to keep in mind that no matter what you do today, this material can not be hidden anymore, and anyone can get to it intentionally or by accident. In fact, imagine that someone push an email to you that contain a guide to make a dirty bomb. Does that make you a suspect? I bet it will, with today 'war in terror' theme; I doubt that you can convince the investigator that you don't know who sent that stuff to you or why did he send it. So, would tapping the lines solve the problem? Of course not!