Turkey activates whistleblower mechanism on “disinformation”, detains 4

Turkey activates whistleblower mechanism on “disinformation”, detains 4
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Erdogan’s aide Altun called on people to report those who produce and spread “suspicious/false news” about the earthquake

While Turkey’s ten provinces are going through agony, Turkish Presidency under Recep Tayyip Erdogan has activated a whistleblower mechanism via phone lines to hunt those deemed to spread “disinformation”.

Fahrettin Altun, the head of Presidential Communications Directorate announced the mechanism on Twitter, saying that the “Disinformation Reporting Service” has been made available to the public.

“You can download our application to your phone and report the suspicious/false news produced and spread about the earthquake disaster,” Altun said.

Via this mechanism, it was believed that the governing power is aiming to prevent social media messages that express inadequacies in search and rescue efforts.

Human rights defender and lawyer Cigdem Koc, who reacted to Altun's post, reported herself on Twitter, listing the shortcomings in the earthquake-hit provinces.

“We can't even keep up with sharing incoming calls for help. There are thousands of dead. Aid did not reach many places. People are hungry, thirsty, miserable in the cold. There is no Hatay and Adiyaman anymore. It’s over. I wish it was all a lie. Is it the time for to recruit whistleblowers? I report myself. Pity, pity,” she said.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s General Directorate of Security (EGM) has announced that they have detected 90 social media accounts who made “provocative posts” about the earthquake and detained four, T24 reported on Tuesday.