The 11th Judicial Package, submitted to the Turkish Parliament by the ruling AKP government, introduces major changes to online publishing and mobile line regulations. According to the proposal, online content can be removed without waiting for a decision from the criminal courts of peace. Social media platforms that resist removing the targeted content may face severe bandwidth throttling, from 50 percent up to 90 percent.
The package reinstates provisions that were previously annulled by the Constitutional Court for violating the Turkish Constitution’s protections of press freedom. Although the government claims the draft was prepared in line with the Court’s reasoning, the key objections raised in the annulment decision appear to have been disregarded.
No Need to Await a Judge’s Decision
As reported by Kısa Dalga, one of the most striking changes allows content to be taken down before a judge issues a ruling. Article 9 of Law No. 5651 — previously struck down by the Constitutional Court for infringing press freedom — is being rewritten.
If an individual claims a violation of personal rights, authorities may order removal or blocking without detailed judicial review, provided they consider the violation “clearly identifiable at first glance.” A formal judge’s order must then follow within 24 hours.
Bandwidth Throttling for Social Media Platforms
The proposal also targets major foreign social media networks with more than ten million daily users in Turkey. If these platforms resist implementing removal orders, courts may order bandwidth throttling. The current limit of 50 percent can be increased to up to 90 percent, making the platform nearly inaccessible within the country.
Biometric Verification for Mobile Lines
Articles 33, 34 and 35 of the bill aim to curb the use of fraudulent or unregistered mobile lines, which are allegedly common in criminal activities. The proposal introduces biometric verification methods for issuing new mobile lines and strengthens identity verification requirements.
Opposition lawmakers and press freedom advocates warn that the package represents a major step toward tightening government control over online information.