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A Critical Assessment of Internet Content Regulation and Censorship in Turkey

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Internet: Restricted Access A Critical Assessment of Internet Content Regulation and Censorship in Turkey Dr. Yaman AKDENIZ & Dr. Kerem ALTIPARMAK November 2008 Published with the support of “Freedom of Expression” Programme of İnsan Hakları Ortak Platformu (IHOP - http://www.ihop.org.tr/) ii About the Authors Dr. Yaman Akdeniz is a Senior lecturer (Associate Professor) at the School of Law, University of Leeds. Akdeniz is the founder of Cyber-Rights.Org based in the UK, and the co- founder of BilgiEdinmeHakki.org, a pressure group working in the field of freedom of information law in Turkey. His recent publications include Internet Child Pornography and the Law: National and International Responses (London: Ashgate, 2008: ISBN: 0 7546 2297 5). For further information about his work see <http://www.cyber-rights.org/yamancv.htm>. Akdeniz can be contacted at [email protected]. Dr. Kerem Altıparmak is an Assistant Professor at the Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences. He is also responsible for a number of projects carried out by the Human Rights Centre of the Faculty. He is the author of numerous works on human rights in Turkey. His interest areas include freedom of expression, ECHR, national human rights institutions. For further information about his work see <http://80.251.40.59/politics.ankara.edu.tr/altipar/>. Altıparmak can be contacted at [email protected]. iii CONTENTS ABOUT THE AUTHORS..................................................................................................................................III INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER I: INTERNET CONTENT REGULATION IN TURKEY .............................................................3 THE HISTORY OF INTERNET CONTENT REGULATION IN TURKEY ......................................................................3 SUPREME BOARD OF RADIO AND TELEVISION (RTUK) BILL (NO 4676)........................................................4 WEBSITE BLOCKING PRACTICES PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF LAW 5651.....................................................6 DEVELOPMENT AND ENACTMENT OF LAW 5651 ................................................................................................8 LAW NO. 5651 AND JUSTICE COMMISSION DISCUSSIONS ................................................................................................. 9 PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSIONS ON THE DRAFT BILL.......................................................................................................10 DEVELOPMENTS AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF LAW NO. 5651 ON THE REGULATION OF PUBLICATIONS ON THE INTERNET AND SUPPRESSION OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY MEANS OF SUCH PUBLICATIONS....................................12 FRAMEWORK OF LAW NO. 5651..........................................................................................................................................12 SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF LAW NO. 5651...........................................................................................................................15 THE ROLE OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATION PRESIDENCY...............................................................20 TIB HOTLINE............................................................................................................................................................................20 CRITICAL ASSESSMENT AND APPLICATION OF LAW NO. 5651....................................................................... 22 BLOCKING OF WEBSITES IN TURKEY ...................................................................................................................................22 YOUTUBE RELATED BLOCKING ORDERS .............................................................................................................................25 Before the Law No. 5651 came into force ................................................................................................................26 After the Law No. 5651 came into force....................................................................................................................30 OTHER BLOCKING ORDERS....................................................................................................................................................35 Blocking orders issued within the scope of Law No. 5651...............................................................................35 Insulting to Atatürk............................................................................................................................................................35 Obscenity................................................................................................................................................................................36 BLOCKING ORDERS ISSUED OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF LAW NO. 5651.............................................................................36 Intellectual Property Infringements...........................................................................................................................36 Defamation Claims .............................................................................................................................................................37 Political Bans.........................................................................................................................................................................41 Unknown reasons...............................................................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER II: LEGAL ANALYSIS OF LAW NO. 5651............................................................................... 44 CHAPTER II: LEGAL ANALYSIS OF LAW NO. 5651............................................................................... 44 SUBSTANTIVE ASPECTS ...................................................................................................................................... 44 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION .....................................................................................................................................................44 General Principles...............................................................................................................................................................44 3 Part Test..............................................................................................................................................................................46 Legal Basis (prescribed by law)....................................................................................................................................46 Article 9 of Law No. 5651 and Legal Basis...............................................................................................................48 Bans issued before Law No. 5651 came into force and their Legal Basis...................................................49 Legitimate Aims...................................................................................................................................................................50 Limits of Restrictions Brought under Law No. 5651...........................................................................................50 Proportionality.....................................................................................................................................................................50 Suitability Test ‐ Circumvention is possible: Law No. 5651 is not effective..............................................51 iv Necessity Test: No other options are invoked........................................................................................................53 Proportionality Test: Over‐blocking...........................................................................................................................54 Democratic society.............................................................................................................................................................55 RIGHT TO PRIVACY: PATERNALISM IN REGULATION ........................................................................................................56 PROCEDURAL ASPECTS....................................................................................................................................... 57 DEFENCE RIGHTS AND PROCEDURAL EQUALITY ...............................................................................................................57 PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE ..............................................................................................................................................59 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES BECOME FINAL JUDGMENTS .............................................................................................60 TRANSPARENCY AND REASONED DECISIONS .....................................................................................................................61 ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCKING ORDERS ISSUED BY TIB.......................................................................................................62 COMPENSATION OF DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF BLOCKING DECISION...........................................................................63 RETENTION OF TRAFFIC DATA AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRIVACY.................................................................................64
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