Turkey's Director of Communications: algorithms are displacing editors and threatening sovereignty

Algorithms as the new 'gatekeepers' of information

Turkey's Director of Communications Burhanettin Duran said on Saturdaythat the growing influence of technology companies on digital platforms poses threats to media independence, national sovereignty and cultural identity. Speaking on the TRT World Forum panel 'Who Is in Charge in the Age of Algorithms? Companies, States, Citizens', he argued that algorithms are increasingly replacing traditional editorial 'gatekeepers', deciding which materials reach audiences and which remain invisible.

The essence of the claims: not neutrality, but interests

'Algorithms are not neutral. Behind them stand human decisions serving commercial and political interests,' Anadolu quotes him as saying. According to him, a handful of technology companies are capable of shaping public opinion by controlling what information people encounter, while journalists and newsrooms struggle to maintain financial independence as platforms profit from their content. 'Journalism cannot survive on visibility alone,' Duran stressed, noting the need for financial support, independence and professional ethics.

Digital sovereignty and three principles

Duran also voiced concern that algorithms affect collective memory: younger generations increasingly learn about the history, culture and identity of their countries through digital platforms. He called digital sovereignty a national priority: countries must be able to protect their data, preserve cultural identity and deliver their own narratives to an international audience. For a fairer digital environment, he proposed three principles — accountability, fairness of algorithmic distribution and pluralism.

Restrictions on reporting from Gaza

Separately, Duran criticized the removal and restriction of reports about Gaza on major platforms, recalling journalists from Anadolu and TRT who were killed or injured: Anadolu freelance cameraman Muntaser Al-Sawaf was killed in an Israeli strike, while TRT Arabic cameraman Sami Shahade was seriously wounded and lost his right leg while working in Gaza. In his view, such restrictions may deprive international audiences of documented reports, and the suppression of factual information may amplify disinformation. 'The future must remain in the hands of people capable of making judgments, defending the truth and taking responsibility for their choices,' he concluded, adding that algorithms must be guided by human and ethical principles.