They are trying to kill the internet in Turkey. Again

They are trying to kill the internet in Turkey. Again.

First they banned Twitter, and now Turkey banned YouTube.

Last week, the Turkish government took Twitter offline for millions of Turkish users. Over the weekend, Turkish authorities started shutting down workarounds that allowed users to communicate via Twitter. Now Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the blocking of YouTube in Turkey. This is all part of Erdogan’s long-running battle against the free and open internet in Turkey, coming less than a month after the passing of a harsh new internet censorship law.

Tell Turkey’s Prime Minister: Don’t delay, unblock the internet today!

Erdogan’s move to block key internet services in Turkey upset many Turks who rely on an open internet to converse, exchange information, and express themselves. Earlier this week, a Turkish court ruled that blocking Twitter violated the country’s provisions protecting freedom of information and communication. Now Turkish authorities are saying they will use the 30 days they have to respond to delay instead of lifting the ban immediately. It is up to Erdogan’s telecommunications authority to comply with the ruling and immediately unblock access to Twitter.

Even the Turkish President Abdullah Gül—the country’s second highest-ranking AK Party member—defied the ban and tweeted his objection, stating “one cannot approve of the complete closure of social media platforms.” Turkish internet users need your help to unblock Twitter right now.
Prime Minister Erdogan: Keep Turkey’s internet open—unblock Twitter & YouTube today!

Turkey already has more imprisoned journalists than any other country in the world. Now its government is trying to silence the internet as well. Turkey needs more transparency, not less. It needs to expand public discourse, not limit it. An open and unrestricted internet is a key part of democratic societies that respect human rights.

Help protect internet freedom in Turkey by contacting Prime Minister Erdogan and letting him know: The world is watching, and the Turkish government must unblock Twitter and YouTube.

Ends

© Scoop Media