Ruling AK Party’s new initiative to regulate social media, combat misinformation

Türkiye’s ruling AK Party has initiated new efforts to regulate social media platforms in Türkiye, aiming to reduce the spread of disinformation and prevent the misuse of online spaces.

Following a recent Strategy Council meeting, the party raised concerns about the widespread circulation of false information on social media and its negative effects on public discourse and the legal system.

Misinformation outpaces accurate information, ruling AK Party suggests

AK Party officials, during the meeting, stressed the growing influence of disinformation on social media. They noted that false news spreads much faster than factual information.

“False information circulates 120 times faster than accurate news,” one party member emphasized.

While misinformation gains thousands of views, the factual corrections or updates that follow often receive much less attention, with only a fraction of the original audience engaging with the truth.

This rapid spread of disinformation has led to widespread confusion and has damaged public trust in reliable sources of information. AK Party representatives pointed out that this growing trend makes it difficult for accurate information to reach the masses, often leaving the truth buried under a flood of false claims.

Social media’s ‘trial by public’ is creating risks for Türkiye

The meeting also addressed the issue of social media users acting as virtual judges, reaching premature conclusions before the facts of a situation are fully understood. AK Party representatives expressed deep concern about this growing trend, which they said is exerting dangerous pressure on the legal system.

“Without solid facts, social media users quickly form opinions, hold trials, and deliver judgments online,” a senior AK Party figure said. This behavior leads to the public making judgments based on speculation rather than verified information. The officials noted that such actions pose serious risks, particularly in judicial matters, where this online pressure can impact the decision-making processes of judges and prosecutors.

They described it as a form of “online mob justice” that threatens the integrity of legal processes and said the potential consequences of this behavior are alarming. This trend has already caused significant issues in certain cases, where people faced unjust accusations without due process.

Ruling AK Party prepares new measures to regulate social media

In response to these concerns, the AK Party is preparing new regulations to tackle disinformation and ensure that social media platforms maintain a higher level of accountability. The officials announced plans to consult experts and develop strategies to protect individuals from reputational damage caused by false accusations online.

AK Party emphasized that every day, numerous people fall victim to online character assassination through baseless claims that spread rapidly on social media. The party aims to address this problem by enacting stricter rules for content moderation and increasing oversight of social media platforms.