Digital Environment Security and Countering Disinformation Bureaus Established in 175 Courthouses
New bureaus to be launched by the Ministry of Justice in 175 heavy penal centers will accelerate judicial processes regarding social media posts, drawing debate among experts.
Minister of Justice Gürlek announced that Digital Environment Security and Countering Disinformation Bureaus will be established in 175 heavy penal centers. Experts state that this step could increase self-censorship.
History and Reflections of the Law
Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), known publicly as the Disinformation Law, entered into force on October 18, 2022, regarding the crime of publicly disseminating misleading information to the public.
Journalists on Trial
Since the law came into effect, at least 83 journalists have been targeted by judicial authorities 114 times on charges of publicly disseminating misleading information to the public.
Access Restrictions and Data
According to data from the Freedom of Expression Association and EngelliWeb, access restrictions were imposed on 194 X accounts with a total of 12 million followers by a single court decision in September 2026 alone.
Establishment of New Bureaus
Following the Cybersecurity Presidency, the announcement that a new censorship institution would be established came from Minister of Justice Gürlek, who announced that special bureaus would be set up in 175 heavy penal centers.
Risk of Double Sanctions
Prof. Dr. Dülger emphasized that the newly established prosecutor's bureaus would conduct criminal investigations for the same post, meaning journalists could face double sanctions.
Political Criticisms
Prof. Dr. Cangül Örnek stated that the primary objectives of the regulation are to criminalize criticisms directed at the government.