Turkey’s parliament has passed a controversial law providing for prison terms for spreading “false or misleading news”. The majority of MPs voted Thursday evening that courts can sentence accredited journalists and ordinary users of online networks to one to three years in prison.
Eight months before the parliamentary elections, the government is stepping up its already crackdown on the media. The new regulation has been criticized at home and abroad, including from the Council of Europe. In addition to newspapers, radio and television, the new law is mainly aimed at online networks and online media. They are asked to expose users accused of spreading “fake news” and pass on their details.
Politician smashes mobile phone during protest
MP Burak Erbay of the secular CHP emphasized that the new law mainly restricts the communication of young people. “I would like to address my brothers who are 15, 16, 17 years old and who will decide the fate of Turkey in 2023,” Erbay said in parliament. “You only have one freedom left: the phone in your pocket.”
Young people communicated via online networks such as Instagram and Facebook. “If the law goes through parliament here, you can break your phone in no time,” Erbay added, smashing his cell phone during the plenary session with a hammer he brought with him. MP Meral Danis Bektas of the pro-Kurdish opposition party HDP said the law “declares war on the truth”.
For Erdogan, online networks are: „Major threat to today’s democracy”
Most Turkish newspapers and TV channels were placed under government control immediately after the 2016 coup attempt. Online media, on the other hand, remained largely free. Later, however, the government forced online services such as Facebook and Twitter to deploy local agents who quickly executed court orders to remove objectionable content. Head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized in December that online networks “have become one of the main threats to today’s democracy”.
Up to three years in prison for fake news possible
Deliberations on the law began in early October. The opposition had made numerous changes to the 40 articles of the “press law”, which had talked about a “censorship law”. Article 29 provides for prison terms of one to three years for “spreading false or misleading information about the internal and external security of the country”, as well as for news “damaging public health, disturbing public order, fear or panic among the population.” “. population could spread”.
The Council of Europe, of which Turkey is a member, criticized the vague definition of “disinformation” in the new law in early October. The accompanying threat of jail time could lead to “increased self-censorship”, especially in view of the parliamentary elections in June 2023.
The bill was introduced in May by Erdogan’s AKP MPs. The president wants to be confirmed in office next year. It will probably be the toughest election for him since he began his term in office nearly two decades ago. Polls for his ruling party are at an all-time low due to runaway inflation and a currency crisis.
Source: Krone
