Head of Communications Altun: "As the Republic of Türkiye, we are engaged in a resolute endeavour to combat the erosion of facts by perceptions and the substitution of truth with falsehoods. We will continue our endeavours both on a global and national scale."
The Directorate of Communications organised a roundtable meeting entitled "Countering Disinformation in Europe: Building a Resilient and Secure Future" in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
Addressing the participants of the meeting via video message, Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun stated that building a resilient and secure future was achievable via the establishment of a robust foundation in communication, which was of great value in international relations as it was in every aspect of life.
Underlining that robust communication was a vital notion that needed to be embraced, particularly in the current information era, Head of Communication Altun said, "Because when communication breaks down, a significant threat known as disinformation arises."
Underscoring that disinformation stood as one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age we live in, Head of Communications Altun said:
"Scientific studies indicate that fake news on social media receives 70 per cent more interaction than real news; in other words, lies spread much faster than the truth. Another study shows that 70 per cent of the European population is constantly exposed to disinformation. It is an undeniable fact that the transformation of facts into 'disinformation,' the distorted, falsified truths for the purpose of pure evil, erodes societies' trust in information and even sidetracks and disrupts democratic processes in today's world. This is precisely why I would like to emphasise once more that combating disinformation is critical to the running of democratic processes as well as the maintenance of global security and stability and the peace of societies."
"We have recognised the fight against disinformation as a primary policy focus"
Noting that several governments recognised this reality and were implementing policies to mitigate the social consequences of disinformation, Head of Communications Altun reminded that the European Union launched the Action Plan Against Disinformation, followed by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) in 2018.
Head of Communications Altun stated that the European Commission launched the Code of Practice on Disinformation in 2018 to ensure that social media platforms oversaw their content under the principles of transparency and accountability.
Pointing out that Türkiye was one of the countries most exposed to disinformation, Head of Communications Altun said:
"We have recognised the fight against disinformation as a primary policy focus within Türkiye's Communication Model, launched under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and we act within this frame of mind. Through the systems we have put in place, we consistently and impartially provide accurate information to address unverified and disinformation content for audiences both at home and abroad. As the Republic of Türkiye, we are engaged in a resolute endeavour to combat the erosion of facts by perceptions and the substitution of truth with falsehoods. We will continue our endeavours both on a global and national scale."
Remarking that the quest for truth would play a pivotal role in addressing both regional and global crises, Head of Communications Altun said, "However, we also recognise that the challenges presented by the digital age are inherently shared, and their solutions require equally collaborative efforts—namely, regional and global cooperation. As Türkiye, we stand ready to contribute to the global fight against disinformation and cooperate on this issue, drawing on the experiences we have gained."