Parliament passes 12 more articles of 'disinformation bill' amid protest from journalists

Fourteen of the 40 articles of the have now been passed in the parliament. The newly accepted articles make it mandatory to share the contact information of internet news sites in an "easily accessible form."

İstanbul

Parliament passes 12 more articles of 'disinformation bill' amid protest from journalists

Photos: Kenen Şener/Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish

The parliament yesterday (October 6) passed 12 more articles of the "disinformation bill," which has raised concerns about further restrictions on news portals and social media platforms.

The law includes a prison term of one to three years for "disseminating misleading information."

Similar to the passing of the first two articles on Tuesday, journalists came to the parliament wearing black masks in protest of the bill.

As they entered the press box, opposition MPs stood up and supported the journalists with applause. Multiple lawmakers also showed their discontent with placards.

The Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) shared a video of the protest on Twitter:

Siyah maskelerimizle Meclis Genel Kurulundayız. Sosyal medyaya ve gazeteciliğe yönelik susturma, karartma, hapsetme yasasına hayır! #SansürYasasınaHayır pic.twitter.com/1Fcxssn4gn
— Gazeteciler Sendikası (@TGS_org_tr) October 6, 2022

Fourteen of the 40 articles of the bill have now been passed in the parliament.

The newly accepted articles make it mandatory to share the contact information of internet news sites in an "easily accessible form."

Furthermore, published content must be kept for two years "correctly and completely," in case a public prosecutor requests it.

CLICK - Disinformation law 'final stage of AKP's media restrictions'

In the articles passed on Tuesday, journalists working for online news sites will be included in the press law and will be able to obtain press cards, which will be commissioned by the press card commission consisting of 19 members.

Three members will represent the Presidency, two members will come from the labor union with the highest number of press card holders, and three members will be deans of communication faculties or journalists holding press cards, determined by the Presidency.

The bill will be further discussed on Tuesday, October 11.

About the bill

According to the "Draft Bill on the Amendment of the Press Law and Some Laws," those who work for internet news portals will be regarded as journalists and they will be able to apply to the Department of Communication for a press credential.

Public employees working in information services in public institutions, radios and televisions will also be able to receive press credentials.

Internet news portals will be taken within the scope of periodical publications.
The proposed law named as a 'censorship law' by journalists' professional organizations also includes new imprisonment penalties.

The proposal reads, "Those who publicly distribute information which is not really related with the security of the country inside or outside, public order or public health with the purpose of creating concern, fear or panic among the people in a manner that domestic peace may be destroyed will be punished with an imprisonment sentence of 1 to 3 years.

With the proposal, reporting offensive content related to the National Intelligence Agency activities and personnel is included within the scope of catalog crimes.

(HA/WM/VK)