“We will not leave this nation at the mercy of YouTube and Facebook.” — Turkey prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
The prime minister of Turkey is looking to pass legislation that will allow the government to block websites without a court order, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The purpose of Erdogan’s potential law, WSJ claims, is to stop “leaked audio recordings online purportedly revealing corruption in his inner circle.” The key targets of this proposed legislation are YouTube and Facebook.
When asked if an entire ban may occur, Erdogan reportedly confirmed its potential to Turkish-based broadcaster ATV, saying “yes, closure included.”
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This ban is not yet in place, but the risk is real: Turkey has blocked numerous social networks in the past, including Twitter and Facebook, with bans as recent as mid 2013. This history in Turkey of a willingness to block social media makes Erdogan’s statements all the more dire.
