Monday, January 13, 2014

"Turkey blocks thousands of websites for home users"

VIENNA -- The OSCE has reacted to Turkey's decision to block a video sharing website by saying it "shows the need to reform the Internet Law" in force in that country.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative Dunja Mijatović warned late last week that blocking of video sharing website Vimeo’s services in Turkey further limits freedom of expression and free media.
The Criminal Court of Peace ruled that the website could be blocked in Turkey in a judgement on Thursday.

“The Internet Law has become an additional tool to silence critical voices online, and the situation with Vimeo is proof of it,” Mijatović said in a statement.

“The legislation should be quickly and thoroughly reformed and brought into compliance with international standards.”

The OSCE statement quoted media reports that said more than 30,000 websites are currently unavailable for home users in Turkey.

The organization noted that for several years the office of its media freedom representative has been advocating for reform of the Internet Law, also known as Law 565, which came into force in 2007.

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