Open letter from newspapers: We are protesting Google's destructive embargo

Independent media organizations in Turkey have published a joint open letter against the destructive embargo Google has imposed on news sites, drawing attention to the massive losses in reader traffic and the impact this has on the media ecosystem. The open letter includes the following statements:

'We want to emphasize that it is of vital importance for the entire public, and especially our readers, to realize the seriousness of the situation.

The flow of traffic directed to news sites was destroyed again starting from the end of January, following an embargo that first emerged in October 2024 and lasted for approximately 1 month. For many news sites, which make up the bulk of independent media institutions, 98 percent of the reader traffic directed through Google's 'Discover' and 'News' tools was wiped out in a single day.

Despite all our attempts, we have not been able to establish a healthy and continuous relationship with Google in response to these sudden and massive traffic losses, for which there is no reasonable explanation, including any algorithm change.

We would like to emphasize that the traffic flow changes made by Google without any oversight, solely in line with its own needs, do not only affect the visibility of media institutions. This 'new' internet news ecosystem, where those ignored by Google are predominantly independent media institutions, also makes it difficult for the public to access news. In the long run, this situation, which has the potential to cause irreversible damage to the financial structures of media institutions that are already struggling with many pressures, also hinders the public's access to news.

The closure of Gazete Duvar, whose employees' signatures are at the bottom of the text, during the days we were preparing the statement you are reading, reveals just how real the danger we are trying to draw attention to is.

For these reasons, as independent media organizations publishing in Turkey, we announce that we will follow up on our corporate rights, the labor of our employees, and the support of our readers, which have been stolen by this attitude of Google, on every platform.

We declare that we will continue this struggle with our applications to both local and international legal authorities, primarily the Competition Authority, and that we will be persistent followers of this destruction that Google has created in our country, as it has all over the world.

Furthermore, we invite state institutions in Turkey related to this issue to take the necessary precautions, to implement regulations that will strengthen local media by not allowing Google or other technology monopolies to target the public's right to receive news and the effort of independent journalism, and to keep channels for the exchange of ideas open without any discrimination among media institutions during these efforts.

We also have a call to advertisers who produce in Turkey and earn in Turkey:

You allocate a significant portion of your revenue to internet advertisements to reach consumers and be visible. However, because news sites, which are among the most important meeting points with consumers, are experiencing reader losses of up to 90 percent due to the Google embargo, this investment is not reaching its target. We invite you to direct your advertisements directly to media organizations publishing in our country until Google and other technology companies abandon these attitudes and a system is established that is transparent and guaranteed by legal regulations.

Our final call is to our readers:

The crisis experienced by independent media is the crisis of all citizens who want to receive news freely. Moreover, this is a crisis of democracy.

Read the news on the internet by going directly to the websites you are a reader of, not through Google; support independent media by breaking this secret embargo!

If you have the means, contribute by subscribing to or donating to the media organizations you follow.

We can only overcome these days with the support and solidarity of you, our readers.

Sincerely...'

Artı Gerçek, BirGün, Diken, Ekonomim, Gazete Pencere, Kısa Dalga, Medyascope, T24