As anti-government demonstrations spread throughout Turkey, the authorities have employed various technological methods to suppress these movements. This includes limiting internet accessibility and utilizing facial recognition technology to pinpoint demonstrators, leading those involved to adjust their tactics accordingly.
Despite the prohibition on protests, approximately 2,000 individuals have been detained in relation to the demonstrations that began on March 19 after Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested on corruption allegations.
In addition to individuals caught in public spaces, numerous others have been detained during early morning operations at their residences following identification through images or videos captured by law enforcement officers during the protests.
Up until now, 13 Turkish journalists have been arrested for reporting on the demonstrations. Among them is AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, who faced charges of “participating in unlawful protests and parades,” allegedly based on photographs taken by law enforcement.
According to Orhan Sener, an authority on digital technologies, the utilization of tech signifies a significant shift since 2013. Back then, a modest demonstration against tearing down Gezi Park in downtown Istanbul escalated into widespread civil discontent regarding the governance of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who held the position of prime minister at that time.
Sener stated that the capabilities of the security forces in information technology have significantly improved since then.
“During the Gezi movement, the demonstrators took control of social media platforms, making it difficult for the police to pinpoint their identities,” he stated.
However, nowadays, when you participate in a protest in Turkey, your image is identified by a camera, which then compares it with your information on social media profiles.
Faces masked
Confronted with this danger, numerous protesters are now shielding their heads and faces using hats, masks, and scarves.
In Istanbul, law enforcement officers often encircle demonstrators, mandating that they remove facial coverings to enable filming, according to AFP correspondents. These individuals are not permitted to leave unless compliant with this demand, causing significant anguish among numerous youths.
Arif Kosar, an expert in the influence of emerging technologies, stated that “every form of pressure prompts a corresponding response. In the near future, we can expect increased utilization of various attire, eyewear, or cosmetics to evade facial recognition systems.”
He stated, ‘However, I do not believe that facial recognition technology represents the primary form of pressure currently. Instead, the dissemination of misinformation to defame the demonstrations, or to undermine and fragment them, holds greater significance.’
Erdogan has condemned the demonstrations as “street terrorism,” alleging that the protesters engaged in “desecration” of a mosque and a cemetery, accusations which the opposition refutes.
Sener pointed out that authoritarian governments have learned to leverage the internet for their benefit and have discovered methods to censor it.
“But above all, they use it for their own propaganda.”
‘Shifting toward a surveillance society’
Right after Imamoglu was arrested during a predawn operation, which he described on X just before his detention, officials began decreasing internet bandwidth for people in Istanbul. This made it impossible to access social media platforms for 42 consecutive hours.
The social media platform X was requested to shut down over 700 accounts associated with journalists, news organizations, political figures, students, and various individuals, as stated by the platform itself.
“Neither the bandwidth reduction nor the attempt to block X accounts had any backing from a court ruling. These actions were implemented without justification,” stated Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor and president of Turkey’s Freedom of Expression Association (IFOD).
He mentioned that new laws were being drafted which would mandate messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to establish offices within Turkey and share user identification details with government officials.
Akdeniz stated that we are heading toward a surveillance society.
In 2020, as disclosed by the opposition news site MedyaScope in 2022, Internet Service Providers began supplying information about web usage patterns and user identities to the Information and Communication Technologies Agency (BTK).
According to the law, the BTK is permitted to retain collected data for just two years. Nevertheless, during the probe involving the Istanbul mayor, evidence dating back as far as ten years has been handed over to prosecutors, as stated by Akdeniz.
“Despite the legal framework, this data retention serves unspecified purposes, thereby enabling potential abuse,” he stated.
For Sener, activism in the real world and online “used to be two different worlds, but now they are intertwined”.
“The government is attempting to deter individuals from participating in protests using facial recognition technology, while also impeding their organization via social media platforms,” he stated.