The 2022 “Disinformation Law” and Quality Journalism in Turkiye

In Turkiye, the 'Law No. 7418 on Amending the Press Law and Certain Law', publicly known as the 'Disinformation Law', entered into force by being published in the Official Gazette No. 31987 dated 18 October 2022. The most important factor in the entry into force of this law was the determination that disinformation increased, especially during epidemics, natural disasters, election periods or important issues that closely concern the society that Turkiye has experienced in the past years. However, some points in the law that came into force caused public debate. Turkiye’s main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), requested the cancellation and suspension of the regulation which the regulation that provides for a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years for the crime of "publicly disseminating misleading information to the public." However, the Constitutional Court (AYM) rejected this request with a majority vote. Following this decision, press professional organizations in the state began to carry out protests. According to the data of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS), within the scope of this regulation, an investigation was opened against at least 33 journalists in the last year, 6 journalists were detained, 4 journalists were arrested and released after a short time. Lawyers argue that the regulation is against the Constitution's principles governing freedom of thought and expression and freedom of the press. Press professional organizations say that the "disinformation" regulation means "censorship". This thesis is aiming to analyze how has the implementation of disinformation law in Turkiye impacted the freedom of expression, quality of journalism, and government repression of opposition voices, and what are the implications for democratic governance and public discourse.