Turkiye's new disinformation law, passed on 13 October, criminalises disseminating untrue information, punishable for up to three years. The legislation, do not describe what exactly would constitute untrue or false information and gives all discretion to courts to decide what is true what is not not only in the legal but also in the epistemological sence. That runs the risk of turning the courts into 'institutions of truth' in an Orwellian way.
If this legislation passes, it would give authorities more ways to silence free expression and 'undesirable information,' which is especially worrying considering the already-weak independence of judiciary in Turkiye. This could have a chilling effect on free speech and critical thought in the country.
Along with the human rights defenders, politicians and members of public, philosophers should also join the debate on 'truth' and the principle of legal certainty to help save freedom of expression.
The most problematic article of the legislation, Article 29 reads as follows: “Any person who publicly disseminates false information about the country's domestic and foreign security, public order and general health, with the sole aim of creating anxiety, fear or panic among the public and in a manner that is liable to disturb public peace, shall be punished by one to three years of imprisonment."
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