The growing use of Turkey’s controversial disinformation law against journalists has intensified concerns among media freedom organisations and opposition figures, who argue that the legislation has evolved into a weapon designed to silence critical reporting rather than protect the public from false information.

The 2022 law criminalises the “public dissemination of misleading information” and carries prison sentences of up to three years.

From the moment it was proposed, press freedom advocates warned that its vague wording would pave the way for its arbitrary enforcement against independent media and political dissent.

According to a joint statement of Turkish and international press and rights groups, published on April 28, at least 83 journalists have faced 114 investigations or prosecutions under the law since its adoption.

Several journalists have been detained or arrested despite reporting information that was later either verified or never officially disproven.

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