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Amid Flow of Leaks, Turkey Moves to Crimp Internet Amid Flow of Leaks, Turkey Moves to Crimp Internet
(7 months later)
ISTANBUL — Shortly after an audio recording in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to be heard talking about easing zoning laws for a construction tycoon in exchange for two villas for his family, SoundCloud, the file-sharing site where it was leaked last month, was suddenly unavailable to Internet users in Turkey. ISTANBUL — Shortly after an audio recording in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to be heard talking about easing zoning laws for a construction tycoon in exchange for two villas for his family, SoundCloud, the file-sharing site where it was leaked last month, was suddenly unavailable to Internet users in Turkey.
Other recordings, also apparently from wiretaps connected with a corruption inquiry linked to Mr. Erdogan and those close to him, have shown up on YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and other social media sites. Often, just as quickly as they appear, they disappear, only to show up soon after somewhere else on the Internet, like a game of Whac-a-Mole.Other recordings, also apparently from wiretaps connected with a corruption inquiry linked to Mr. Erdogan and those close to him, have shown up on YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and other social media sites. Often, just as quickly as they appear, they disappear, only to show up soon after somewhere else on the Internet, like a game of Whac-a-Mole.
But now, facing a wide-ranging corruption investigation and a steady flow of embarrassing leaks, the government has moved to more aggressively control the flow of information online by passing — in a late-night parliamentary session on Wednesday — a new set of laws that would make it easier for government bureaucrats to censor the Internet.But now, facing a wide-ranging corruption investigation and a steady flow of embarrassing leaks, the government has moved to more aggressively control the flow of information online by passing — in a late-night parliamentary session on Wednesday — a new set of laws that would make it easier for government bureaucrats to censor the Internet.
Under the legislation, Turkey, which already has strict laws to regulate content online, will allow government officials to block sites they deem violate personal privacy, without obtaining a court order. It would also force Internet companies to retain the data — like emails and search histories — accumulated by their customers for two years, which some here worry could be used by the authorities to start criminal investigations.Under the legislation, Turkey, which already has strict laws to regulate content online, will allow government officials to block sites they deem violate personal privacy, without obtaining a court order. It would also force Internet companies to retain the data — like emails and search histories — accumulated by their customers for two years, which some here worry could be used by the authorities to start criminal investigations.
The government has cast the new laws, which still need the signature of President Abdullah Gul, as an effort to protect individual privacy, but critics have dismissed them as an attempt by the government to clamp down on leaks from the corruption investigation and call them a gross violation of freedom of expression. Like much else that has gone on in Turkey lately — from last summer’s antigovernment protests and the subsequent police crackdown, to the current questions about corruption and the government’s purge of police officers and prosecutors believed to be managing the investigation — the new move to monitor the Internet has had the dual effect of increasing tension within the country while tarnishing Turkey’s image abroad.The government has cast the new laws, which still need the signature of President Abdullah Gul, as an effort to protect individual privacy, but critics have dismissed them as an attempt by the government to clamp down on leaks from the corruption investigation and call them a gross violation of freedom of expression. Like much else that has gone on in Turkey lately — from last summer’s antigovernment protests and the subsequent police crackdown, to the current questions about corruption and the government’s purge of police officers and prosecutors believed to be managing the investigation — the new move to monitor the Internet has had the dual effect of increasing tension within the country while tarnishing Turkey’s image abroad.
Already, there have been scattered protests against the legislation, and some on social media on Thursday were calling for more demonstrations.Already, there have been scattered protests against the legislation, and some on social media on Thursday were calling for more demonstrations.
“The Internet is the only place left in Turkey where you can be free and obtain true facts,” said Nedim Coskun, a student, who fled down one of Istanbul’s narrow streets to escape tear gas after police officers dispersed a recent protest. “The media already distorts the truth because it is under the government’s control. So when they take over the Internet, everything will go black, and we will become ignorant and Erdogan will gain power.”“The Internet is the only place left in Turkey where you can be free and obtain true facts,” said Nedim Coskun, a student, who fled down one of Istanbul’s narrow streets to escape tear gas after police officers dispersed a recent protest. “The media already distorts the truth because it is under the government’s control. So when they take over the Internet, everything will go black, and we will become ignorant and Erdogan will gain power.”
The European Union, which Turkey seeks to join, has sharply criticized the move, putting it in the context of what many international critics regard as a poor record of media freedom in Turkey, which leads the world in jailed journalists. On Twitter, Stefan Fule, the European commissioner for enlargement, who is overseeing Turkey’s bid for membership, said the law “raises serious concerns.”The European Union, which Turkey seeks to join, has sharply criticized the move, putting it in the context of what many international critics regard as a poor record of media freedom in Turkey, which leads the world in jailed journalists. On Twitter, Stefan Fule, the European commissioner for enlargement, who is overseeing Turkey’s bid for membership, said the law “raises serious concerns.”
Peter Stano, the spokesman for Mr. Fule, said, “I can say that this law is raising serious concerns here.” He added, “The Turkish public deserves more information, more transparency, no more restrictions.”Peter Stano, the spokesman for Mr. Fule, said, “I can say that this law is raising serious concerns here.” He added, “The Turkish public deserves more information, more transparency, no more restrictions.”
In 2007, Turkey passed a law allowing the courts to block websites that contained pornography, along with sites that encouraged gambling and those that insulted the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. After the law was passed, YouTube, for instance, was blocked entirely for about 18 months.In 2007, Turkey passed a law allowing the courts to block websites that contained pornography, along with sites that encouraged gambling and those that insulted the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. After the law was passed, YouTube, for instance, was blocked entirely for about 18 months.
But this time, the crackdown is seen by many in the context of the corruption investigation, which the government first sought to stifle by reassigning thousands of police officers and many members of the judiciary. It has sought to exert more control over the media, including an edict by a government watchdog to limit coverage of the corruption case, although the directive has been ignored by many news outlets.But this time, the crackdown is seen by many in the context of the corruption investigation, which the government first sought to stifle by reassigning thousands of police officers and many members of the judiciary. It has sought to exert more control over the media, including an edict by a government watchdog to limit coverage of the corruption case, although the directive has been ignored by many news outlets.
“This is no longer about children, no one buys that,” said Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor at Bilgi University. “It is about the government trying to protect themselves.”“This is no longer about children, no one buys that,” said Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor at Bilgi University. “It is about the government trying to protect themselves.”
One independent news website, Vagus.TV — established by Serdar Akinan, a veteran journalist who like many reporters here lost his job in the mainstream news media over what he believes was his critical coverage of the government — was briefly shut down after publishing an article about the leaked audio recordings.One independent news website, Vagus.TV — established by Serdar Akinan, a veteran journalist who like many reporters here lost his job in the mainstream news media over what he believes was his critical coverage of the government — was briefly shut down after publishing an article about the leaked audio recordings.
Another popular independent news site, T24, where many big-name Turkish journalists have gone to work after losing their jobs at traditional news outlets under government pressure, was forced by the government to remove a link that referred to an effort by opposition lawmakers to ask questions in Parliament about the corruption case.Another popular independent news site, T24, where many big-name Turkish journalists have gone to work after losing their jobs at traditional news outlets under government pressure, was forced by the government to remove a link that referred to an effort by opposition lawmakers to ask questions in Parliament about the corruption case.
For Dogan Akin, a prominent former newspaper reporter and editor who founded T24, the government interference was ominous, and reminiscent of the pressure Mr. Erdogan’s government had previously reserved for the mainstream media, in which many outlets are owned by businessmen with close ties to the government.For Dogan Akin, a prominent former newspaper reporter and editor who founded T24, the government interference was ominous, and reminiscent of the pressure Mr. Erdogan’s government had previously reserved for the mainstream media, in which many outlets are owned by businessmen with close ties to the government.
“The government cannot restructure the Internet as it does the traditional media by controlling business groups,” Mr. Akin said.“The government cannot restructure the Internet as it does the traditional media by controlling business groups,” Mr. Akin said.
Those fighting the new law say they will push for a presidential veto and support court challenges.Those fighting the new law say they will push for a presidential veto and support court challenges.
But first, said Akif Hamzacebi, an opposition lawmaker, “we will explain to the public that this legislation is about preventing corruption stories that focus on the prime minister and his ministers.”But first, said Akif Hamzacebi, an opposition lawmaker, “we will explain to the public that this legislation is about preventing corruption stories that focus on the prime minister and his ministers.”