As part of new legislation that Turkish President Erdogan is trying to lead, the Turkish government will limit the power of social networks and their surfers, including through the establishment of a special oversight body on social networks and the imposition of heavy prison sentences on those who distribute Pike News.
In a speech yesterday, the Turkish president responded to his critics’ curtailment of freedom of expression, saying that “social networks, once described as a symbol of freedom immediately upon their first appearance, have slowly become one of the main sources of threat to democracy today.”
Erdogan added that “we are simply trying to protect our citizens, especially the vulnerable sectors of society, in the face of lies and misinformation without violating our citizens’ right to accurate and impartial information.”