Turkey’s PM, ministers granted right to block websites January 20, 2015 - 17:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s Prime Minister or any of his ministers will have the right to block any website without a court ruling for broad reasons such as “protection of public order,” according to a new omnibus bill, Hurriyet Daily News reports. The Prime Minister’s office and related ministries will be able to demand that the Telecommunications Directorate’s (TİB) authority to close websites within four hours on the basis of “national security, protecting public order or preventing crime”, according to a last-minute article submitted to parliament as part of an omnibus bill about foundations and associations. The TİB will have to decide to block websites or remove related content from the Internet in a very short period of time, according to the bill submitted by ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Konya deputy Kerim Özkul. A demand by the Prime Ministry or any ministry will be sufficient for the TİB to take urgent decision to block access or remove Internet content in the name of “protecting the right to life, protecting people’s life and property, national security, public order, preventing crime, or protecting general health.” Websites will be blocked four hours after the decision is sent by the TİB to the content providers or hosting provider and will remain closed until the content is removed. Another regulation that granted similar rights to the TİB was passed in parliament on Sept. 10, 2014, sparking protests from Internet rights groups. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) appealed to the Constitutional Court on Sept. 15, 2014, to annul the changes, arguing that they further restricted Internet use in Turkey and increased the government’s control of web traffic. On Oct 2, 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled as “unconstitutional” the TİB’s authority to close websites within four hours without a court ruling.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia.Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |
