Turkey has had public access to the Internet since 1993 and while the country’s government has implemented both legal and institutional reforms in the hopes of becoming a member of the European Union (EU), the country has also shown itself to be highly sensitivity to defamation and ‘‘inappropriate’’ online content. Hence, Reporters Without Borders has placed Turkey on its “under surveillance” for Internet censorship.
Internet Access and Usage in Turkey
Turkey has at least 35 million active Internet users but the country also actively censors websites dealing with controversial topics such as Ataturk (the founder of modern Turkey), the Turkish Army, issues involving minorities (especially the Kurds) and so-called “terrorist” organizations. Other websites that are subject to bans include those that deal with prostitution, gambling, drugs and pornography. Websites can also be banned for perceived defamation or copyright law violations.
What Technology Does Turkey Use to Restrict Internet Access?
The Telecommunications Authority (TA), the Information Denouncement Center (which accepts complaints about websites via email or phone) or Turkish courts can order a particular website blocked. However and under Turkish Internet Law, it is also the responsibility of individual Turkish ISPs to block potentially offensive content before an official order is given to do so.
What Websites are Blocked in Turkey by Internet Censorship?
YouTube is the most high profile victim of Turkish Internet censorship as it has been blocked on and off in Turkey due to videos deemed offensive. In addition, Google-owned Blogger, which is used by some 600 000 Turkish bloggers, was blocked by a court after satellite TV firm Digitürk complained that streaming media feeds from local soccer games were being posted on Blogger websites – in violation of copyright laws. Otherwise, engelliweb.com has reported that some 8,170 Internet websites that are inaccessible in Turkey either as the result of action by the Telecommunications Authority or a court decision.
Critics point out that Internet censorship in Turkey has been implemented piecemeal and that there appears to be no clear-cut definition or directives of just what is permissible and what violates the law. In fact, some critics contend that Turkish authorities are simply banning sites with little consideration.
Internet Censorship in Turkey: Further Reading
To learn more about Internet censorship in Turkey, check out the OpenNet Initiative’s Turkey profile along with Reporters Without Borders’ Turkey country page.
How to Bypass Internet Censorship in Turkey
By using a VPN service accessible from Turkey, Internet users can access any website as if they were anywhere else in the world (depending on the location of the VPN server you choose).
