The Turkish Ministry of Defense has announced that it is now forbidden for military personnel in military operation zones to use “smart” mobile phones and camera phones. Heavy penalties are also provided for military personnel who post on social media in violation of relevant regulations and orders.

“The use of smart phones and camera phones is strictly prohibited in business zones“, said a source of the Turkish Ministry of Defense during the weekly regular briefing of the defense editors.

The same source added that severe penalties will be imposed on staff found to be acting in violation of relevant laws and orders by making postings that constitute an offence.

As he said, “personnel who will be assigned to border and operational zones have begun to be briefed prior to their deployment on the communication needs and negative effects of the devices, systems and applications that will be used with the use of social media».

Speaking yesterday at an event marking the 97th anniversary of Turkey’s MIT intelligence agency, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the use of foreign messaging apps by state officials on their cellphones created intelligence weaknesses and announced an initiative to Turkish production of applications is used.