Turkey’s independent journalists stand against so-called disinformation bill
The new bill in parliament aims to bring further restrictions on freedom of expression online and on social media as elections approach, experts say.
Turkish journalist bodies are rallying against a new bill that they claim delivers a new nail to the coffin of press freedoms under the guise of fighting fake news.
The draft bill, which passed the parliament’s digital media commission with minor changes last week, allows for jail sentences of up to three years for those who “disseminate information that misleads the public” about public health, public order, or internal and external security of the country. “If the offense is committed by someone concealing their real identity or as part of the activities of an organization, the sentence would be increased by half,” the draft bill says. It also affords new powers to the administration to sanction the online media with various financial tools.
