Turkey discusses ‘fake news’ bill that would tighten media control

Turkey’s proposed ‘fake news’ bill is facing criticism for potentially increasing government control over media. The bill targets social and online media, adding to existing government influence on nearly 90% of national media outlets, which are under financial and judicial pressure.

Parliamentarians from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) proposed an amendment to the press law on May 26. The bill aims at combating “fake news”, but it is being strongly criticized for potentially expanding the control of the government over the internet and the media. In Turkey, almost 90% of national media is already controlled by the government, and critical media outlets are under heavy financial and judicial pressure. The amendments to the bill suggest targeting social and online media, which until now was not entirely controlled by the government