“Disinformation Law” Used Against 83 Journalists Since 2022, Report Reveals

A comprehensive investigation by data journalism outlet “Veriler Ne Diyor” has revealed that 83 journalists in Türkiye have been targeted by the country’s controversial “disinformation law” since its implementation in late 2022. These journalists have faced allegations of “publicly disseminating misleading information” a total of 114 times over the past three and a half years.

The data shows that authorities have launched 54 investigations and filed 39 lawsuits against members of the press under the law. The crackdown has resulted in 11 instances of detention and 10 arrests of journalists based on disinformation charges.

Of the 54 investigations initiated, 41 concluded with non-prosecution decisions. Five investigations remain ongoing, while information on seven others could not be obtained. In one case, judicial control measures were imposed, including a signature requirement and an international travel ban.

Judicial control measures have become a common form of restriction against journalists targeted by the law. Of the 11 detained journalists, nine faced various forms of judicial control: four were banned from traveling abroad, three were required to both sign in at police stations and surrender their passports, one was placed under house arrest with a travel ban, and one was ordered to read two books on press freedom limitations and write summaries. Only two journalists were released without restrictions.

Half of the journalists arrested under the law were later released, though the report doesn’t specify the status of those who remained in custody.

The law has resulted in prison sentences for three journalists to date. Sinan Aygül became the first journalist sentenced under the disinformation law in February 2023, receiving a 10-month prison term for a social media post alleging child abuse by security officers in Bitlis. Although his conviction was eventually overturned by the Court of Cassation and he was acquitted in a retrial, his case highlighted the law’s chilling effect on reporting sensitive issues.

Yüsra Batıhan of Mezopotamya Agency received a 10-month sentence for social media posts about alleged obstruction of press access and aid seizures during the February 2023 earthquake response. Journalist Sedef Kabaş became the third convicted under the law, receiving a 10-month sentence in November 2025 for a post regarding potential utility price increases following elections.

The report identifies several journalists who have been repeatedly targeted by the law. İsmail Arı of BirGün newspaper tops the list with six accusations, resulting in his arrest on March 22 after previously having four investigations and one lawsuit against him dismissed. Kayhan Ayhan, also from BirGün, and Alican Uludağ of Deutsche Welle Turkish have each faced four investigations. Uludağ remains in detention on separate charges of insulting the president.

Other journalists who have faced multiple accusations include Oktay Candemir, Ruşen Takva, and Timur Soykan, each targeted three times. Seventeen other journalists have faced disinformation charges twice.

This systematic application of the disinformation law against journalists has raised significant concerns about press freedom in Türkiye. Media rights advocates have criticized the law since its inception as a tool to silence critical reporting and limit public access to information on sensitive topics, including government misconduct, disaster response, and economic issues.

The law’s implementation comes amid broader international concern about declining press freedom in Türkiye, which has been highlighted by various international media watchdog organizations as one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists in recent years.