evidence: Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency under the aegis of the Ministry of Interior has come under fire for lack of experience and expertise. Relatives of those stuck under the rubble have taken to social media to voice their cries for help, while many reported contracting heavy equipment themselves to save lives. On 7 February, President Erdoğan acknowledged that there were problems with the state’s initial response to the earthquake. [...] The Turkish government’s response to the catastrophe led to widespread criticism, including in the media, regarding the lack of and deficiencies in rescue efforts in the hours and first days after the earthquake. On 7 February, President Erdoğan publicly threatened to target those who criticized the authorities. In the first two days following the earthquake, the state detained over 90 people, including journalists, some based solely on their social media posts. The same day, the head of media and communications at the Presidency Fahrettin Altun announced the launch of a mobile app to fight disinformation. While disinformation is a serious concern, a key way to prevent it is to ensure more media freedom. [...] People who have been detained for alleged looting following the earthquake in Türkiye have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in state custody. Videos of such abuse are under review by Amnesty International and people’s testimonies regarding their ill-treatment continue to be collected.