The national media have long been under the supervision of the Turkish government: it controls 90% of them, according to Reporters Without Borders. And social networks, too, are more than ever in the spotlight
Published on 09/28/2024 09:56
Reading time: 3 min Instagram, like other networks and media, under surveillance by the Turkish government. Illustrative photo (YASIN AKGUL / AFP)
During the earthquake that struck Turkey in February 2023, Twitter (which has since become X) was blocked in order to avoid any criticism of the government’s negligence. The blockage finally had to be lifted after around twelve hours, because the network was also used by rescuers to reach the victims.
In fact, since the passing of a law on disinformation, prosecutions have increased in the face of criticism on social networks. This summer, access to Instagram was blocked for several days: the authorities accused him in particular of censoring messages of condolence after the death of Hamas leader Ismaël Haniyeh. A very difficult blockage: Instagram has some 57 million subscribers in Türkiye. And it is precisely the criticism against the deprivation of access to Instagram which led to the new turn of the screw: questioned by a YouTube channel, a young woman let go and affirmed that “shutting down social media is a coup d’état ! Even if he ruled the world, the President of the Republic cannot block Instagram. You are all idiots, for giving up our rights and freedoms to one person, and considering him superior to God.”
After this declaration, she was arrested and after 18 days in prison was sentenced after a quick trial to seven and a half months in detention. RTÜK, the audiovisual regulatory authority, places sidewalk microphones under surveillance. Any comments considered to be detrimental to the State, slanderous or degrading made in public spaces will be punished. As for YouTube, it is planned to require authorization for any news or entertainment channel. They will have to obtain a license from the High Audiovisual Council.
Netflix is also censored. At least a Greek series, Famagustawhich was to be broadcast from September 20, and which relates the abuses of the Turkish army during its military intervention in Cyprus in 1974. “Biased story”, denounces the Turkish government which blocked the series. Independent or critical channels are regularly inflicted with heavy fines. And the trend should not be reversed immediately: the president of RTÜK has populated the body with members or relatives of the AKP, Erdogan’s party.