CHP's Tanrıkulu assesses 'new tool for interfering in citizens' private lives': The ambiguity of 'Cyber Incident'

Tanrıkulu expressed his reaction with the words, "Now, is it a state of law or a state of security? We see that the main purpose of this law is to be used as a new tool to interfere with our citizens' and the opposition's fundamental rights, freedom of expression, and the right to personal liberty and security, as well as their private lives."

Highlights from Sezgin Tanrıkulu's speech:

HOW WILL HUMAN RIGHTS BE PROTECTED?

"Distinguished Members of Parliament, I have taken the floor regarding the Cyber Security Law. I greet you all with respect. Now, is it a state of law or a state of security? Let us first ask ourselves this question. Unfortunately, the Justice and Development Party, moving far away from its founding values, especially in the last decade and after the constitutional amendment, has abandoned the balance between a state of law and a state of security, and has entered into a different orientation that is entirely security-focused and does not take personal freedoms and rights as a basis.

This law has also been drafted in a manner consistent with the Justice and Development Party's new understanding and new tendency, and even its title has been expressed in that way.

Why am I saying these things? In the law, there is no phrase, no regulation regarding how our citizens' fundamental rights will be protected, how human rights will be protected, how freedom of expression will be protected, or how private life will be protected.

Not a single sentence has been included regarding fundamental rights. Therefore, with this regulation you have brought, especially when we look at the definitions, the open-ended definitions in the fourth article, the content and regulations of these definitions, which are absolutely contrary to the Constitution, have been placed in a way that can mean anything.

For example, what is a 'Cyber incident'? A definition has been made, but it is open-ended and can go in any direction. Along with this, unlimited powers have been granted to the board and the president in the fifth and sixth articles. However, no power that does not derive its source from the Constitution can be exercised.

Therefore, we see that the regulation of the law in this form and our current understanding, the main purpose of this law, is to be used as a new tool to interfere with our citizens' and the opposition's fundamental rights, freedom of expression, and the right to personal liberty and security, as well as their private lives."