Against the Wind: Internet, Politics and Cyber Activism in Turkey

Euxeinos. Culture and Governance in the Black Sea Region (GCE-HSG) 5/2012, pp. 14-21

by Asli Tunç *

The Internet, especially social media, has gradually become a defining force in modern-day politics in Turkey. Beginning to realize the oppositional power of the Internet a decade ago, the political establishment, the AKP (Justice and Development Party) government – to be precise – has enacted the Internet Law No. 56511 in May 2007. This controversial law left a damaging mark in the Turkish blogosphere. However, in terms of the country’s Internet censorship history, websites were taken down or blocked as early as in 2000 in Turkey and, between 2000 and 2007, several blocking orders were issued by courts and enforced by the then dial-up Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

* Istanbul Bilgi University

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