Google Changes Threaten Independent Turkish Media

Independent news outlets in Turkey face potential closure after a sudden change in Google’s algorithm led to a 98% decrease in reader traffic through the “explore” and “news” functions. The decrease was detailed in an open letter signed by several outlets. Turkey’s parliament declared willingness to take legal action.

The letter, signed by publications such as BirGün, Ekonomim, Gazete Pencere, and T24, claims that the algorithm change threatens independent news and obstructs the public’s right to information. Gazete Duvar, a news outlet that also penned the letter, ended its operations before the letter could be published due to financial troubles, partly caused by the algorithm’s change.

“The closure of Gazete Duvar, whose signature should have been included in the text, on the very day we prepared the statement you are reading, reveals just how real the danger we are trying to draw attention to is,” wrote the outlets.

“For these reasons, as independent media outlets in Turkey, we announce that we will pursue our corporate rights, the labor of our employees, and the support of our readers on every platform.”

The outlets had previously called attention to Google’s algorithm impact on their traffic, after an October 2024 change caused the readership of some sites to drop as much as 80%. The decline in visitors lasted for several months and then partially resumed sometime in January 2025 before declining again.

In Turkey, independent outlets depend largely on revenue generated by Google to remain solvent, as private advertisers largely refuse to support independent websites. According to Reporters Without Borders, over 90% of Turkish media is under government control, making independent media a crucial resource.

On March 20, Turkey’s Digital Media Commission convened to discuss the algorithm changes. The head of the commission, Hüseyin Yayman, criticized Google’s policies, accusing the tech giant of preferential treatment. He stated that legal action would be considered if necessary.

“Google’s unilateral decisions are pushing media organizations into financial hardship and this has gone beyond tolerable limits. Independent and local news outlets are being made invisible online, while certain media groups benefit from special privileges,” said Yayman.

The situation reflects growing concerns over tech companies’ power on the media. A similar case unfolded in Canada last year when multiple major news outlets sued OpenAI for allegedly using copyrighted material to train its large language models.