Many users are unaware of their rights: An expert listed the rights of internet users.

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The internet - social media, which has become an important element of daily life, also harbors rights violations on one hand. Istanbul Regional Court Prosecutor Asım Ekren made significant statements regarding users' rights in the face of insults, fraud, and defamatory and false news, especially through news sites and social media.

"INTERNET JOURNALISM HAS BECOME MORE RELIABLE"

Referring to the latest legal regulations in the press and publishing field, Prosecutor Ekren stated, "It is the Law No. 7418 on the Amendment of the Press Law and Certain Laws. It was accepted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 14.10.2022 and published in the Official Gazette dated 18.10.2022, coming into force. It is possible to say that the content of the legal articles contains many innovations regarding internet publications (news sites) that concern individuals or institutions. It should be noted that not every website is classified as an 'internet news site.' Internet news sites have been included in the category of periodicals by this law and subjected to certain rights and obligations with a more reliable structure, with a clear location and addressee, in accordance with the Press Law." he said.

CONTACT ADDRESSES WILL BE SHARED OPENLY AND ACCESSIBLY

Highlighting the obligations that increasing internet-social media publications, in other words, news sites, must comply with, Istanbul Regional Court Prosecutor Ekren emphasized that it has become easier to reach these news sites, stating: Users will be able to directly access the business address, trade name, email address, contact phone number, and electronic notification address of the internet news site, as well as the name and addresses of the service provider in the relevant internet environment and on the homepage. This information will be included under the contact heading. This situation will allow requests to be communicated to the internet news site more quickly and effectively. It will provide users with confidence in knowing the addressee." he expressed.

ALL CHANGES IN CONTENTS WILL BE TRACKED

Prosecutor Asım Ekren emphasized that it has become mandatory for news, photos, videos, and other content on these news sites to be visible to users, including the date of first publication and any updates that may occur thereafter.

USERS HAVE OBTAINED THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN AND COMPENSATION

"Users will be able to request legal compensation in case of violations of the actions listed in the Press Law, subject to general principles, and may file complaints due to criminal liability. The difficulties previously encountered in identifying the responsible parties in earlier requests or complaints will largely no longer exist. Because this information will be shown in the declaration that must be submitted to the public prosecutors and will be recorded publicly, meaning that anyone who wishes can see it. This will allow knowing the addressee, i.e., the officials of the news site, and foresee that they can be reached through official records when necessary."

PUBLICATION OF CORRECTION AND RESPONSE RIGHTS IS MANDATORY

"If individuals or institutions have correction and response (retraction) requests, they will now also be met in the internet environment. Retraction was previously not available for internet news sites. It existed for newspapers, magazines, and television. With the amendment, retraction requests must be published without any corrections or additions, within a maximum of one day from the date the article was received, in the pages and columns of the relevant publication, by providing a URL link, in the same font and manner. In the event of a decision to block access to the publication and/or remove the content, or if the internet news site removes the content voluntarily, the retraction text will be published on the relevant site for a week, with the first twenty-four hours on the homepage. If the retraction is not published and, upon the request of the interested party, the correction and response ordered by the peace criminal court is not published, this will be considered a crime, and the management of the site where the publication was made can be reported to the public prosecutors where the declaration record is kept."