Turkey moves to block YouTube

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 28.03.14
Publication Date 28/03/2014
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After having denied Turkey's 12 million Twitter users access to the micro-blogging site earlier in March 2014, Turkish authorities moved to block YouTube on the 27 March 2014.

The YouTube block, according to Turkey’s national telecommunications authority, was needed as a precautionary administrative measure hours after a government recording on possible Syria military operations was leaked onto the social media site.

EU digital affairs commissioner Neelie Kroes condemned the move via twitter. On the 31 March 2014, Andreas Scheuer, German CSU's general secretary, called for the negotiations on Turkey's accession to the European Union to be stopped.

Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said 'Just prior to key local elections, the total blocking of access to YouTube is a further worrying development regarding freedom of expression and is contrary to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. Once again, it raises serious questions about the application of the law on the Internet passed last February. The restrictions on freedom of expression must be strictly regulated'.

The BBC and other news sources reported on the 3 April 2014 that the Turkish authorities have lifted the ban on Twitter following a constitutional court ruling on the 2 April 2014.

The court had told the country's telecommunication authorities the two-week-old ban must be lifted as it was a breach of freedom of expression.

On the 4 April 2014 another court ordered the lifting of the similar ban on YouTube.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised on the 4 April 2014 the Constitutional Court ruling which lifted the ban on Twitter.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/foreign/123667
Related Links
Deutsche Welle, 28.03.14: Spying accusations as Turkey blocks YouTube http://dw.de/p/1BXZe
The Guardian, 28.03.14: Turkey and Twitter: major authors join PEN International appeal end to ban http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/28/zadie-smith-rushdie-pamuk-pen-international-letter-turkey-twitter-ban
Euronews, 27.03.14: Turkey shuts down YouTube over security alert http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/27/turkey-shuts-down-youtube-over-security-alert/
The Guardian, 28.03.14: Turkey blocks YouTube amid 'national security' concerns http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/27/google-youtube-ban-turkey-erdogan
France 24, 27.03.14: Turkish telecoms authority blocks access to YouTube http://www.france24.com/en/20140327-turkey-blocks-access-youtube-erdogan-twitter/
BBC News, 27.03.14: Turkey moves to block YouTube access after 'audio leak' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26773702
ESO: Background information: Turkey's Twitter ban meets immediate EU criticism http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkeys-twitter-ban-meets-immediate-eu-criticism/
Blog: Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 26.03.14: Is Erdoğan Abandoning Democracy? http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=55101
Hurriyet Daily News, 27.03.14: US, EU officials react to Turkey's YouTube ban http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-eu-officials-react-to-turkeys-youtube-ban.aspx?pageID=238&nID=64214&NewsCatID=359
Euro|Topics, 28.03.14: Erdoğan extends Internet bans http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER140938-Erdo-an-extends-Internet-bans
ESO: Background information: Local elections to seal Erdoğan’s fate http://www.europeansources.info/record/local-elections-to-seal-erdogans-fate/
Council of Europe; Press Release, 28.03.14: Turkey: total blocking of access to YouTube is contrary to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, says PACE President https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=AP-PR057%282014%29
Deutsche Welle, 02.04.14: Stop Turkey's EU accession, say German parties http://dw.de/p/1BZs2
BBC News, 03.04.14: Officials in Turkey 'lift Twitter ban' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26873603
Hurriyet Daily News, 03.04.14: Turkey unblocks Twitter, but concerns remain http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/twitter-set-to-be-opened-after-long-wait.aspx?pageID=238&nID=64525&NewsCatID=339
Radikal, 04.04.14: Government delays Twitter access (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE141329-Government-delays-Twitter-access
BBC News, 04.04.14: Turkish PM Erdogan criticises Twitter court ruling http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26880891
Deutsche Welle, 07.04.14: Turkey losing faith in the European dream http://dw.de/p/1Bcri
The New York Times, 10.04.14: Turkey Keeps YouTube Block Despite Court Rulings http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/04/10/technology/10reuters-turkey-youtube.html
Euronews, 15.04.14: Turkey and Twitter talk http://www.euronews.com/2014/04/15/turkey-and-twitter-talk/
The New York Times, 16.04.14: Turkey Greets Twitter Delegation With List of Demands http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/world/europe/a-list-of-demands-greets-twitter-delegation-in-turkey.html
EP: EPRS: Summaries, 30.07.14: Social media freedom in Turkey http://epthinktank.eu/2014/07/30/social-media-freedom-in-turkey/

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