The new Turkey |
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24-Jan-2019 8:51 |
The Turkish government is preparing a new draft law that would oblige internet broadcasts, including over such popular platforms as Netflix, Blu TV and Puhu TV, to receive permission to operate from the local police department and the country's National Intelligence Organization (MİT), Cumhuriyet newspaper said . According to the 24-article draft law, seen by Cumhuriyet, internet platforms will need to obtain licences to stream material in Turkey at a cost of up to around $32,000 and permission must be obtained from MİT and the police for Internet broadcasting. Granting of the licences, which will be valid for 10 years, is to be tied to conditions imposed by Turkey’s security services. The proposed legislation would allow censorship of a wide range of material and would allow platforms that breach regulations to be shut down, rather than fined. It also includes ambiguous definitions relating to the platforms that would fall under its scope, increasing the probability that it will be misused. The draft law is the latest move by Turkish authorities to increase their control over the information citizens can access. TV and print media are already subject to tight government control, whilst in March this year, Turkey’s parliament passed a law placing online video services under the control of the broadcast media regulator, the High Council for Broadcasting (RTÜK). If the draft legislation comes into force, it would further increase government control over the internet, where access to many sites, including Wikipedia , has been blocked. |
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