Provision transferring BTK’s internet powers to presidential body published in Official Gazette; Ebru Çelik and two BirGün employees give statements to prosecutor over “extras” report; access to JinNews’ Turkish X account blocked for the seventh time

Provision transferring the BTK’s internet powers to presidential body published in the Official Gazette

The bill transferring the Information and Communications Technologies Authority’s internet powers relating to content, platforms, games, networks and infrastructure layers within the Presidency of Cyber Security was published in the Official Gazette on 31 July. 

The bill authorizes the Presidency of Cyber Security to order unspecified "measures" on its own initiative or at the request of security and intelligence agencies. The decisions will have to be implemented by telecommunication operators, access providers, data centers and relevant content and hosting providers within two hours, before being submitted to a judge for approval within 24 hours. 

The provisions transfer to the Presidency of Cyber Security a range of BTK responsibilities concerning social networks, game platforms and internet regulation, along with the related technical systems, data centers and personnel. They will also grant the presidential body broad new powers to order measures affecting internet access, services and infrastructure. 

The Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) warned that the proposal would create an “end-to-end censorship and surveillance backbone” by concentrating these powers within a security institution.

Ebru Çelik and two BirGün employees give statements to prosecutor over “extras” report

BirGün reporter Ebru Çelik and internet coordinators Uğur Koç and Berkant Gültekin gave statements at the public prosecutor’s office on 29 July as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding their report on the use of extras at the CHP’s badge-pinning event. Journalists Timur Soykan and Fatih Altaylı were also summoned to give statement over their social media posts about the report in question.

Çelik had revealed that paid extras had been brought in via a casting agency for the CHP membership induction ceremony. According to the report, hundreds of extras from various casting agencies were brought to the ceremony in exchange for TL 950. Following her report—which was based on on-the-ground observations and concrete evidence—Çelik was targeted by the CHP’s trustee administration. Gürsel Tekin, appointed as a trustee to the CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate, played an audio recording containing insults directed at Çelik during a press conference he organized. Following Tekin’s complaint, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation on suspicion of “spreading false information.”

Meanwhile, Ömer İne, the owner of Merss Production, confirmed that he had provided extras for the event, whilst stating that he had not received any payment from the CHP and had carried out the work entirely of his own volition.

BirGün newspaper is reportedly preparing to take legal action following the report due to statements made against them.

Access to journalist Gülmüş’s X account blocked

Access to journalist Gülistan Gülmüş’s X account has been blocked.

Gülmüş wrote: “I will continue to share my news via the https://x.com/guleggg page.”

Access to JinNews’ Turkish X account blocked for the seventh time

Access to JinNews’s X account with the username @jinnewsturkce0 has been blocked in Turkey. 

This marks the seventh time access to JinNews’s Turkish X account has been blocked. 

JinNews’s new Turkish X account has been announced as @Jinnewstrkc.

At least 20 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

According to the latest information obtained by Expression Interrupted that Cengiz Oğlağı had been released, as of 31 July 2026, there are now at least 20 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either awaiting trial or serving finalized sentences.

The full list can be accessed here