Turkey approves social media law critics say will silence dissent

The law would allow Turkish authorities to remove content from platforms rather than blocking access as they have done in the past. — Reuters

ANKARA: Turkey adopted a new social media law on July 29 that critics say will create a “chilling effect” on dissenting voices who have resorted to Twitter and other online platforms as the government tightened its grip on mainstream media.

The law was backed by President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party and its nationalist allies to make foreign social media sites more accountable. It requires them to appoint a local representative to address authorities’ concerns.