AN EXAMPLE OF INTERNET CENSORSHIP IN TURKEY: YOUTUBE (by: Duygu Hatipoglu, Ferzan Ozyasar)

Reasons for the Website bans: 1591 sites were banned till February 2009 523 sites because of pornography 130 sites for damaging copyright legislations 79 for gambling 77 for opposing the Turkish Penal Code (taken from: http://mindtrick.net/blockedinturkey/list.php )

1591 sites were banned till February 2009

523 sites because of pornography

130 sites for damaging copyright legislations

79 for gambling

77 for opposing the Turkish Penal Code

(taken from: http://mindtrick.net/blockedinturkey/list.php )

Law No 5156 (The Internet Law): 8 types of Internet Crimes: -Encouraging suicide -Child Abuse -Easing the distribution and usage of drugs -Illegal distribution of medicine -Prostitution -Pornography -Illegal Gambling -Insulting Ataturk

8 types of Internet Crimes:

-Encouraging suicide

-Child Abuse

-Easing the distribution and usage of drugs

-Illegal distribution of medicine

-Prostitution

-Pornography

-Illegal Gambling

-Insulting Ataturk

The Youtube in Turkey: -The 17 th most popular site even during the ban -Users usually access the content via Ktunnel -Was banned and re-opened 6 times between June 2007 and January 2008 -Ban not lifted since May 2008

-The 17 th most popular site even during the ban

-Users usually access the content via Ktunnel

-Was banned and re-opened 6 times between June 2007 and January 2008

-Ban not lifted since May 2008

Court Decisions about the Youtube: Block Starts Block ends Court 05.05.2008 - Ankara 1 st Criminal Court of Peace 03.12.2008 04.01.2008 Ankara 1 st Criminal Court of Peace 01.01.2008 02.01.2008 Ankara 12 th Criminal Court of Peace 09.01.2007 10.01.2007 NA 07.01.2007 08.01.2007 NA 05.01.2007 06.01.2007 NA 03.06.2007 04.01.2007 1 st Criminal Court of Peace (taken from: http:// mindtrick.net/blockedinturkey/list.php )

Block Starts Block ends Court

05.05.2008 - Ankara 1 st Criminal Court of Peace

03.12.2008 04.01.2008 Ankara 1 st Criminal Court of Peace

01.01.2008 02.01.2008 Ankara 12 th Criminal Court of Peace

09.01.2007 10.01.2007 NA

07.01.2007 08.01.2007 NA

05.01.2007 06.01.2007 NA

03.06.2007 04.01.2007 1 st Criminal Court of Peace

(taken from: http:// mindtrick.net/blockedinturkey/list.php )

Banning websites damages: -The right of receiving information -The right of publicizing opinion -The right to a fair trial

Banning websites damages:

-The right of receiving information

-The right of publicizing opinion

-The right to a fair trial

WHAT CAN BE DONE ? -Cooperating with the internet users while creating the legal framework -More objective criteria and concrete definitions must be used in the internet laws -Practical objection mechanisms must be created -There must be specialized judges, lawyers and attorneys in the area

-Cooperating with the internet users while creating the legal framework

-More objective criteria and concrete definitions must be used in the internet laws

-Practical objection mechanisms must be created

-There must be specialized judges, lawyers and attorneys in the area