Turkish President approves controversial internet bill

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Abdullah Gül approved a bill that will increase state control over the Internet, despite calls for his veto as the government launched a fresh initiative to amend the law, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

On the same day as Gül's approval, the government submitted proposals to amend the bill voted by Parliament last week. Communications Minister Lütfi Elvan contacted the three opposition parties at Parliament, proposing to amend the bill so as to subject to judicial review any Directorate of Telecommunication (TİB) decision to block websites.

According to one of the most criticized measures introduced by the bill, the TİB’s head would be authorized to block access to any web pages that he decides have breached the right to private life within four hours, without a court order.

With a first amendment proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), it would become obligatory for the head of Turkey’s telecommunication watchdog to send its decision to a court within 24 hours.

According to a second amendment, all information on Internet traffic would be collected based on IP numbers and subscriber numbers, instead of URL’s, which was criticized as being a more insidious method. Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy parliamentary group leader Akif Hamzaçebi said after meeting with Elvan that the steps were “positive but not enough,” adding that they wanted to see the government’s offer in writing before deciding whether to support it.

Gül acknowledged last week that “a couple of issues with the law” remained, but referred to the Constitutional Court as the venue for an in-depth analysis of the legal changes.

“As the president, I cannot put myself into the position of the Constitutional Court. I just make my objections on flagrant [violations]. The opposition party has already declared that it will take it to the Constitutional Court. This is our tradition. My predecessors have also been saying that the Constitutional Court has to decide on disputed laws,” Gül told journalists travelling with him to Hungary.