Turkey's 'disinformation' bill to have pre-election 'chilling effect' -Europe watchdog

FILE PHOTO: Protesters demonstrate in Istanbul against a media bill that Turkey's government says will fight "disinformation," but which media rights groups argue will double down on a years-long crackdown on critical reporting in Istanbul, Turkey, June 21, 2022. Banner reads: "banning news means hiding inflation". REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya/File Photo

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's proposed "disinformation" bill threatens free speech and could further harm journalism ahead of next year's elections, a European rights watchdog's legal body said, calling for Turkey's parliament to reject it.

The Venice Commission, which advises the Council of Europe, said prison sentences and other fallout from the draft legislation would be disproportionate to its aims and could lead to "arbitrary restrictions of freedom of expression".