Social media law published on Official Gazette

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

Prepared by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and passed by the General Assembly of the Parliament on July 29, the law foreseeing changes in social media was published on the Official Gazette today (July 31).

The legal amendment introduces a new definition of "social media provider" to the Law on Regulation of Publications on the Internet and Suppression of Crimes Committed by Means of Such Publications.

Foreign-based social network providers that have more than 1 million daily visitors in Turkey will now assign at least one representative in the country.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the bill aims to set a formal definition of social media providers with the aim of designating a responsible representative for investigations and legal proceedings relating to the offenses committed on social media platforms.

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Alternative Informatics Association Chair Faruk Çayır previously spoke to Hikmet Adal from bianet about the bill passed by the AKP and MHP MPs.

Finding the criticisms of "censorship" right, Çayır said, "It is a huge trickery to say that the law will give the right to be forgotten. There is not a single thing about the right to be forgotten in the new legislation."

Çayır also briefly added: "No matter what they do, information is sure to spread in one way or another. In today's world, it is impossible to prevent people from sharing information. Just as printing has managed to survive despite being regarded as the 'invention of the devil' at first, the hardships caused by this legislation, as hard as it is, will lead people to look for a way out, find new ways and increase knowledge." (AÖ/SD)