Turkey’s Attack on Free Speech
In March of 2014, then-Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made headlines worldwide by banning the use of Twitter and YouTube throughout the country. While the ban has since been lifted, the Turkish government’s censorship of both online and printed media has become increasingly stringent. Turkish media and journalists continue to be limited by strict and unreasonable laws, strategically set by their own government.
According to a June-December 2014 transparency report recently released by Twitter, Turkey made more government requests to remove or withhold content than any other country. The report noted that the social media company “received 328 court orders and 149 requests from Turkish government agencies directing Twitter to remove content ranging from violations of personal rights to defamation of private citizens and/or government officials.”
Of the 1982 tweets withheld worldwide, Turkey was responsible for 1820. In a country of reportedly 12 million Twitter users, these statistics demonstrate a new, unsettling threat to Turks’ freedom of speech and expression.
Last June, after 49 Turkish diplomats and their families were taken hostage by ISIS, Erdoğan barred all media from reporting on the abduction. The administration justified the order by explaining that they needed to ensure the safety of the abductees. Aykan Erdemir, a deputy in Turkey’s Republican People’s Party, stated: “This court decision is a politically motivated one where the government solely aims to manage the perceptions of our people in Turkey.” According to Erdemir, the ban’s effect was to deny specific information to the public. At the least, he argues, the government demonstrated a convenient capacity to control the flow of information.
Last September, Erdoğan approved as President new legislation restricting free speech and privacy online. The regulations enable authorities to collect data on and track the browsing history of all users. The amendments could also allow the government to more easily block websites they deem to be a “threat.”
European Commission spokesman Peter Stano expressed worries: “The law in its current form introduces several restrictions on freedom of expression…the Turkish public deserves more information and more transparency, not more restrictions.” Despite its candidacy for accession to the EU, Ankara has signaled a departure from free-press values. The administration points to national security in passing these laws, but continues to confine its citizens within fortified media borders.