Turkish government is once again tackling to issue of control over social media, which Erdogan hates for being pro-opposition. Like the rest of the world, social media usage in Turkey is growing exponetially, eroding Erdogan’s tight control over the news flow through main stream media. Despite allegations of putting thousands of pro-AKP trolls on the payroll, AKP failed to the viewership of pro-opposition accounts and personalities.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu has called for urgent legal measures to protect minors from the harms of social media, highlighting the increasing need for regulations, seconded by President Erdogan and conservative congress members.
Uraloglu’s remarks had come during the presentation of his ministry’s 2025 Central Government Budget Bill to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM). Since then, Turkish press reported that the AKP caucus is striving to re-introduce the notorious “influence agent” article to new omnibus legislation presented to TBMM, which allows authorities to ban any person or media organization for nebulous crimes such as receiving foreign NGO funding.
The crack-down as escalated with the house arrest of prominent pro-opposition TV personality Ozlem Gürses and the temporary detention of Nevsin Mengu.
Turkish authorities have banned access to seven news websites with a socialist editorial stance critical of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya news agency reported on Thursday.
The Ankara 10th Criminal Court of Peace on Wednesday blocked access to the Gazete Patika, ETHA, Mücadele Birliği, Kızıl Bayrak, Özgür Gelecek, Umut Gazetesi and Yeni Demokrasi Gazetesi news websites in order to “protect national security and the public order,” All accused of aiding and abetting PKK terror.
Rights groups routinely accuse the Turkish government of trying to keep the press under control by imprisoning journalists, closing down media outlets, overseeing the purchase of media brands by pro-government conglomerates and using regulatory authorities to exert financial pressure, especially after President Erdoğan survived a coup in July 2016.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 90 percent of the national media in Turkey, which was ranked 158th among 180 countries in the RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, is owned by pro-government businessmen who toe the official line.
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