ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey is the country with the least internet freedom in Europe and among the worst globally, a watchdog said on Tuesday, with people arrested, investigated and convicted in the country over social media content.
“Turkey’s new social media regulations came into effect in October 2020. Platforms with over a million daily users are required to remove content deemed “offensive” within 48 hours of being notified, or risk escalating penalties including fines, advertising bans, and limitations on bandwidth,” Freedom House advocacy organization stated in their new report published Tuesday, ranking Turkey 19th in the world for internet freedom.
“The law reduced social media companies’ ability to resist requests from Turkish authorities that are designed to further censor opposition voices, independent journalism, and nonviolent expression. Most companies have since established a legal entity, though some have promised that there will be no change to their content moderation policies,” reads the report, which covered developments between June 2020 and May 2021.
Human Rights Watch criticized the law in July 2020 and voiced worry, saying it will “greatly increase online censorship, particularly in light of the country’s poor record on freedom of expression.”
The report studies human rights and freedom on the internet in 70 countries. The report covered developments between June 2020 to May 2021, and Iraq was added the list of countries that suffers subjugation due to internet use, colour-coded “partly free” for net freedom.
Turkey was colour-coded “not free” for their net freedom having arrested, investigated and convicted people based off content posted on different social media platforms, including Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube, Twitter and Clubhouse.
Turkey has been vocal about their violations. Turkish Interior Ministry in February said they had arrested 39 people over social media activism, saying they are carrying out a “virtual patrol” from three directorates. They were detained over “propaganda for a terrorist organization.”
Iran is the second worse country globally after China for net freedom, according to the report. The country has blocked thousands of websites and social media platforms for religious and cultural purposes, including Facebook and Youtube, and especially opposition media, or media funded by the west.
Internet has been disrupted in the Iraqi capital and southern provinces during protests, an internet observer group said in May. The Iraqi government also implemented a near-total Internet blackout during 2019 protests in October and November that targeted corruption, nepotism, unemployment, and lack of basic services.
The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq has also been accused of using the Law to Prevent the Misuse of Telecommunications Equipment to curb free speech, Human Rights Watch said in January. Several journalists and activists have been convicted to up to six years in prison on the grounds of misusing a communication device, which an MP revealed was due to conversation and content shared in a messenger group.
A Kurdish social media influencer was arrested early this year for the “misuse of social media” after referring to a vehicle by the name of a popular Kurdish singer.
