The newly enacted cybersecurity bill in Türkiye has raised significant concerns regarding press freedom, drawing criticism from both domestic and international rights organizations. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the legislation could undermine press freedom by criminalizing legitimate reporting and handing extensive surveillance powers over cyberspace to government authorities.
Under the provisions of this law, individuals could face two to five years in prison for spreading content that the government deems “false” with the intent to “create anxiety, fear, and panic among the public, or to target institutions or individuals.” The law’s vague language has sparked fears that it could be used to suppress journalistic activities unless they are confirmed by official sources, a challenge underscored by the CPJ’s Turkey Representative, Özgür Öğret. Öğret has called for a revision of the law to prevent potential censorship.
The bill empowers the newly established Cybersecurity Directorate to oversee data collection and enforce cybersecurity measures, while a corresponding cybersecurity authority and commission are authorized to access digital information. These entities, along with a cybersecurity board comprising senior government officials, are poised to play a powerful role in the country’s digital landscape. As noted by the Cybersecurity Directorate, law enforcement agencies are authorized to conduct inspections, subject to court approval.
The Turkish Parliament’s adoption of the cybersecurity law followed a report by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) in 2024, stating that the personal data of millions of Turkish citizens had been compromised. The government framed the law as a necessary step to enhance national security, but rights groups have raised alarms that it may curb freedom of expression and journalism, echoing warnings from the Turkish Journalists Association.
The law follows a series of legislative actions criticized for their impact on civil liberties, including a proposed espionage law that 81 human rights organizations opposed in 2024 and the 2022 disinformation law, condemned by Amnesty International. As reported, the main opposition, the Republican People’s Party, is planning a legal challenge, asserting it threatens foundational rights enshrined in the constitution.