Yes, the news is accurate. Turkey’s independent media outlets have publicly protested against Google, accusing it of imposing a “traffic embargo” that drastically reduces their visibility on platforms like Google News and Discover. This has led to significant declines in reader traffic—up to 98% for some outlets—impacting their revenue and threatening their sustainability. The protest comes in the wake of algorithm changes by Google that independent media claim disproportionately favor pro-government and conglomerate-owned outlets while sidelining independent journalism124.

The issue has been ongoing since late 2024, with similar restrictions reported in October 2024 and again in January 2025. Independent outlets such as BirGün, T24, and Medyascope argue that these changes not only harm their financial viability but also restrict public access to diverse news sources. They have called for legal action both locally and internationally, urging state institutions to regulate tech monopolies like Google to ensure fair competition and protect press freedom14.

This protest coincides with the closure of Gazete Duvar, a prominent independent news outlet, which attributed its financial struggles partly to these traffic losses. Critics, including journalists and opposition politicians, have labeled Google’s actions as a form of “covert censorship” that undermines democracy and press freedom in Turkey124.

What specific changes did Google’s algorithm make that affected Turkish media?

Google’s algorithm changes have significantly affected Turkish media, particularly independent outlets, by reducing their visibility on platforms like Google News and Google Discover. Here are the key aspects of these changes:

1. Targeting SEO Practices: The updates aimed to filter out content that artificially boosted traffic using aggressive SEO tactics, such as embedding high-ranking keywords for monetization purposes, rather than focusing on journalistic quality. This disproportionately impacted Turkish news websites that relied on such strategies to maintain visibility1.

2. Reduced Visibility for Independent Media: Independent outlets like BirGün, Gazete Duvar, Halk TV, and others reported traffic losses of up to 80-98%. These losses were particularly severe on Google News and Discover, where their content became almost invisible. Meanwhile, pro-government and conglomerate-owned media gained prominence in search results and news aggregation feeds67.

3. Algorithmic Bias Allegations: Critics argue that the algorithm changes favored state-affiliated and government-friendly media while sidelining independent journalism. For example, in Google’s “Turkey” news section, outlets like Hürriyet and TRT were prominently featured, while independent outlets were absent despite being actively followed by users6.

4. Economic Impact: The decline in visibility led to significant revenue losses for independent media, as much of their income depends on traffic-driven advertising. This financial strain has already forced some outlets, such as Gazete Duvar, to shut down56.

5. Lack of Transparency: Google has not provided clear explanations for these changes or engaged in meaningful dialogue with affected media organizations. Despite claims that the updates were global and not targeted at specific countries or outlets, the impact on Turkish independent media has been disproportionately severe67.

These algorithmic adjustments have raised concerns about press freedom, democracy, and the economic sustainability of independent journalism in Turkey. Critics have described the changes as a form of “covert censorship” that restricts public access to diverse news sources27.

Google’s recent algorithm changes affecting Turkish media share similarities and differences with updates implemented in other countries:

In summary, while Google’s algorithm updates globally aim to reduce spammy or low-quality content across the board, the impact in Turkey has been disproportionately severe for independent media. Unlike other regions where declines were notable but less existentially threatening, Turkish independent outlets experienced drastic visibility losses that threaten their economic viability. Additionally, allegations of indirect censorship and favoritism toward pro-government media are more explicitly voiced in Turkey compared to other countries.