Privacy Profile

PHR2006 - Republic of Turkey 18/12/2007

PHR2004 - The Republic of Turkey 16/11/2004
At the cross-roads of Asia and Europe, seeking EU membership whilst remaining true to her identity and keen to promote greater homogeneity, does Ankara act as a bastion for a person's right to privacy?

Turkey - PHR 2003 01/09/2003
Section Five of the 1982 Turkish Constitution is entitled, "Privacy and Protection of Private Life." Article 20 of the Turkish constitution deals with individual privacy and states, "Everyone has the right to demand respect for his private and family life. Privacy of individual and family life cannot be violated."

PI Reports

Report on Freedom of Information, Secrets and Protection of Sources in OSCE (PDF) 02/05/2007
Report sponsored by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media which reviews freedom of information, state secrets and protection of journalists sources laws in the 56 OSCE participating states. The report finds that while most OSCE countries have adopted freedom of information laws, there has been an increasing abuse of state secrets laws and illegal searches and wiretapping to limit journalists' and the public's right to know crucial information about the activities of their governments. The RFOM has also released a summary of preliminary results and a 400 page compendium of responses from national governments.

Censorship Profile

Silenced - Turkey 21/01/2003
Pushing for EU membership and economic integration, is Ankara compelled towards liberal media laws and protecting individual privacy?

PI Reports

PI authors report on Counter-Terrorism and Freedom of the Media 25/11/2008
A new report conducted by Privacy International for the Council of Europe Media and Information Society Division reveals effects of new counter-terrorism laws on media and free expression rights in European countries. The report “Speaking of Terror” examines how the “war on terror” has affected access to information, the growth of incitement, glorification and “extremism” restrictions on speech, blocking of internet sites, increased surveillance of journalists and limits on protection of journalists’ sources.

Report on Freedom of Information, Secrets and Protection of Sources in OSCE (PDF) 02/05/2007
Report sponsored by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media which reviews freedom of information, state secrets and protection of journalists sources laws in the 56 OSCE participating states. The report finds that while most OSCE countries have adopted freedom of information laws, there has been an increasing abuse of state secrets laws and illegal searches and wiretapping to limit journalists' and the public's right to know crucial information about the activities of their governments. The RFOM has also released a summary of preliminary results and a 400 page compendium of responses from national governments.

PI Global Studies

Freedom of Information Around the World 2006 Report 20/09/2006
Privacy International released the 2006 Freedom of Information and Access to Government Records Around the World report on 20 September 2006. The survey reviews FOI and other access laws and their implementation in 70 countries. The survey is now available in English and Russian. A global map of FOI laws, regulations, and pending bills is also available.

PI/Freedominfo.org Global Survey 2004: Freedom of Information and Access to Government Record Laws Around the World 13/05/2004
Privacy International and Freedominfo.org released the 2004 Freedom of Information and Access to Government Records Around the World report on 13 May 2004. The survey reviews FOI, state secrets, environmental, archives and other access laws and their implementation in 58 countries. It is available in English, Russian and Arabic A global map is also available.

Silenced: Censorship and Control of the Internet 10/09/2003
Silenced is an independent research initiative managed jointly by Privacy International and the GreenNet Educational Trust. The twelve-month project was undertaken through a collaboration of more than fifty experts and advocates throughout the world. The work was made possible by a grant from the Open Society Institute.

Other Documents

EPIC Cryptography and Liberty 2000 Survey 05/08/2000

EPIC Cryptography and Liberty 1999 Survey 01/05/1999
A survey of the encryption policies in over 100 countries around the world finds that there is little support for restrictions on use of encryption.

Legal Library

Turkish Right to Information Law 14/10/2003
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signed the Right to Information Law on 24 October 2003. The law gives citizens the right to demand information from government bodies. They must respond in 15 days. A Board of Review of the Access to Information is to be created to hear appeals. It went into effect 24 April 2004.

Links and Other Resources

Civil Society Participation to the policy making process of the Turkish Government in relation to the development of an Information Society in Turkey 04/07/2004