Despite a ban on gatherings, nearly 2,000 people have been detained since the demonstrations began on March 19. Many were arrested on the streets, while others were taken from their homes in pre-dawn raids after being identified through police footage and photographs.
Digital security expert Orhan Şener, in an analysis published by France 24, highlighted the stark contrast between today's surveillance capabilities and those during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Back then, demonstrators dominated social media, and law enforcement struggled to track them. "Now, if someone joins a protest in Turkiye, facial recognition systems can immediately match their identity with social media profiles," Şener explained.
Arif Koçer, an expert on the societal impact of emerging technologies, noted that "every form of pressure generates countermeasures." He predicted an increased use of disguise techniques such as distinct clothing, tinted glasses, and makeup to evade facial recognition. However, he emphasized that misinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting and dividing protests pose an even greater challenge.
Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor and head of the Turkish Freedom of Expression Association, criticized the arbitrary slowdown of internet services and efforts to restrict access to social media. He revealed that legislation was being drafted to require messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to establish offices in Turkiye and disclose user identities to authorities.
"This unlawful data retention enables arbitrary practices," Akdeniz cautioned, underscoring the growing intersection of online and offline activism. "Through facial recognition, the government is not just discouraging people from protesting—it is also restricting their ability to mobilize through digital platforms."
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