EU urges Turkey to change internet law

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 07.02.14
Publication Date 07/02/2014
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On 5 February 2014, the Turkish parliament passed a law that allows the government agency, the Telecommunications Communications Presidency (TIB), to block access to websites without a court order if they are deemed to violate privacy or seen as having 'insulting' content.

This crackdown on the internet raised serious concerns in the European Commission and needed to be revised in line with European standards, the Commission's spokesman on enlargement, Peter Stano, said on 6 February 2014.

According to EurActiv, a Turkish newspaper said on the 7 February 2014 that one of its journalists had been ordered to leave the country for criticising Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter, raising concerns about media freedom a day after Turkey tightened internet controls.

BBC News reported on the 8 February 2014 that Turkish riot police had fired water cannon and tear gas at hundreds of demonstrators marching in Istanbul in protest at the new laws tightening government control of the internet.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved the new law on the 19 February 2014. However, Mr. Gul revealed on the 23 February 2014 that he had asked the Parliament to amend some of the points of the law.

The Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said in March 2014 that Facebook and YouTube could be banned following local elections in March 2014 after leaked tapes of an alleged phone call between him and his son went viral, prompting calls for his resignation.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/news/123045
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Hollande declines to open new EU chapter in Turkey / Germany's Steinmeier urges EU to resume talks on Turkey's membership bid http://www.europeansources.info/record/hollande-declines-to-open-new-eu-chapter-in-turkey-germanys-steinmeier-urges-eu-to-resume-talks-on-turkeys-membership-bid/
BBC News, 08.02.14: Istanbul clashes over Turkey's new internet laws http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26103295
EurActiv, 10.02.14: Turkish paper says journalist expelled for criticising Erdogan http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/turkish-paper-journalist-expelle-news-533369
Deutsche Welle, 14.02.14: Turkish activists brace for Internet censorship http://dw.de/p/1B8Nr
Euronews, 19.02.14: Turkey’s controversial internet law gets presidential approval http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/19/turkey-s-controversial-internet-law-gets-presidential-approval/
France 24, 24.02.14: Turkish President wants to ‘fix’ controversial Internet ban http://www.france24.com/en/20140224-turkey-internet-ban-gul-hurriyet-parliament/
BBC News, 06.02.14: Turkey journalist fears country's new internet use law http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26060021
BBC News, 23.02.14: Police and protesters clash over new Turkish internet law http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26311770
The Guardian, 06.02.14: Turkey pushes through new raft of 'draconian' internet restrictions http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/06/turkey-internet-law-censorship-democracy-threat-opposition
openDemocracy: openSecurity, 11.02.14: Turkey’s new internet law: policing the online mall http://www.opendemocracy.net/opensecurity/jussi-parikka-burak-arikan/turkey%E2%80%99s-new-internet-law-policing-online-mall
Blog: Kader Sevinc, 03.03.14: Briefing Note on the New Law on the Internet http://kadersevinc.blogactiv.eu/2014/03/03/chp-briefing-note-on-the-new-law-on-the-internet/
The Guardian, 07.03.14: Turkey may ban Facebook and YouTube if Erdoğan wins elections http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/07/turkey-erdogan-facebook-youtube-ban-elections
ESO: Background information: Calls for Turkey PM Recip Tayyip Erdogan to resign in leaked tape scandal http://www.europeansources.info/record/calls-for-turkey-pm-recip-tayyip-erdogan-to-resign-in-leaked-tape-scandal/
The New York Times, 07.03.14: Turkish Prime Minister Threatens to Ban Facebook and YouTube http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/03/07/world/europe/ap-eu-turkey-internet-bans.html
BBC News, 07.03.14: Turkey PM Erdogan threatens to ban Facebook and YouTube http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26480982

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