A lawmaker from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has sparked controversy by calling online gaming platforms a threat to national security, Turkish Minute reported, citing Demirören news agency.
Hüseyin Yayman, the AKP MP from Hatay and chairman of the Turkish parliament’s digital committee, made these comments after a brutal attack in Eskişehir. But critics argue that his focus on gaming distracts attention from the more complex problems of radicalization and extremism.
Yayman expressed his concerns in a recent public address, arguing that digital gaming addiction has reached alarming levels and is now threatening the future of Turkish youth.
He referred to the recent stabbing in Eskişehir, where an 18-year-old attacked several people near a mosque. The attack, in which five people were injured, was live-streamed by the attacker, which shows immediate parallels to similar incidents in the West. Yayman suspects that the perpetrator may have been influenced by his experience with violent online games.
“Digital addiction is robbing our youth of their future,” Yayman said. “We have seen the devastating effects of this around the world, especially in the United States, where young people influenced by online gaming characters have committed horrific acts. The recent incident in Eskişehir speaks volumes. It’s not just about screen time; it’s about protecting the mental and emotional well-being of our children.”
However, critics argue that Yayman’s remarks oversimplify the matter. The Eskişehir attack, which was the first reported neo-Nazi-motivated attack in Turkey, was carried out by a radicalized youth who was deeply influenced by far-right ideologies, and not just video games. Investigators found that the attacker was active on extremist online platforms where he absorbed hateful ideologies, rather than just engaging in gaming communities.
Yayman’s comments have drawn criticism from those who believe the government is using online gaming as a scapegoat. Many argue that the real problem lies in the spread of extremist ideologies through various digital channels, including social media and specialized forums, and not specifically through gaming platforms. The attacker’s detailed manifesto, posted online before the attack, cites neo-Nazi figures and rhetoric that is far removed from the context of online gaming.
The AKP government has tightened control over digital spaces in the past, often under the pretext of protecting public morals or national security. The recent focus on online gaming is seen by some as another step toward greater censorship.
Yayman explained that while the government is against outright bans and censorship, it must take the necessary precautions to protect the country, especially from the influence of transnational digital corporations. His critics, however, argue that these measures often result in the suppression of freedom of expression and the restriction of access to information.
The debate over the impact of digital gaming in Turkey comes amid a broader crackdown on online platforms. In recent months, the Turkish government has banned several popular platforms, including gaming platform Roblox, on the grounds that content could exploit children. These moves have drawn widespread criticism, particularly from free speech advocates who argue that the government is increasingly using these justifications to suppress dissent and control public discourse.
Please take a second to support the Stockholm Center for Freedom on Patreon!
