Algorithmic Warfare Discourse in Turkish Media: an Analysis of News Coverage on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Iran-usa/israel War

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This study examines how news reports on algorithmic warfare and AI-driven conflict in the Iran-U.S./Israel war are framed in the Turkish media. Conducted on news published between February 25 and March 24, 2026, using a mixed-method design combining critical discourse analysis with quantitative content analysis, the research examined a total of 72 news articles from 24 media outlets that differed in terms of their ideological categories. The analyses were conducted within four categories: hegemonic, critical, liberal/secular, and international. The findings were analyzed across four dimensions (a total of nine analyses, including sub-dimensions): thematic distribution, actor frequency, ideological orientation and AI discourse. According to the findings, news reports on algorithmic warfare are placed on the Turkish media agenda most extensively by liberal/secular outlets. In contrast, it was found that critical media engages in a more structural examination of these technologies. It was observed that hegemonic media positions technology companies as active agents while placing the civilian actor at the bottom of its own actor hierarchy. The study is significant in that it makes the ideological discourses surrounding algorithmic warfare in the Turkish media visible and offers a unique contribution to the literature in this field.