Tel-Sen union warns: digital sovereignty in Northern Cyprus under threat

In Northern Cyprus, Hakan Üredi, head of the Cyprus Turkish Civil Servants, Transport, Communication, IT and Telecommunications Workers' Union (Tel-Sen), stated on April 13, 2026, the need to protect digital sovereignty from foreign interference.

Üredi drew attention to systematic attacks in the digital space, which, according to him, have ceased to be a hypothesis. He pointed to the activities of online reputation management companies, partially linked to India, and described the methods used: content removal, mass complaints, algorithmic suppression, and the creation of fake activity to manipulate information flows.

According to Üredi, the loss of control over communication infrastructure will lead to digital surrender: the population's right to information, trade union activities, and public reactions may become vulnerable to external operations. He emphasized that the struggle for digital sovereignty is an issue that goes beyond party politics and concerns national independence.

Practical benefit for residents: be more attentive to information sources and consider the risk of manipulation in digital channels, as well as support initiatives to strengthen local communication infrastructure. Tel-Sen confirmed it will maintain a tough stance on this issue and push for further measures to protect the digital space.