Parliament Passes Internet Censorship Bill
Despite the disapproval from Turkey’s three main opposition parties, the parliament passed the bill giving authorities extraordinary competencies regarding internet management.
The ruling AKP also rejected revisions requested by opposition parties.
Upon President Abdullah Gül’s approval, the law will be implemented.
So, what are the restrictions within the law?
* Applications regarding the violation of private life will directly be made to TIB (Telecommunications Administration Authorities).
* If TIB rules on a restriction, Access Providers Union (ESB) will have to take all censorship demands into effect in 4 hours.
* The request will be taken to a Peace Court within 24 hours. The restriction will be made by TIB when a delay will be inappropriate. The urgent intervention will not require a court approval.
* Domain providers will be required to store their traffic date for two years. They will also be compelled to block alternative ways of access for websites banned by TIB.
* DNS and IP-based restrictions will be enlarged with systems currently used by countries like China, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
What does URL-based restriction mean?
Previously, Chamber of Computer Engineers Executive Board Member Berhan Soylu told bianet the following:
* Even though the current restriction measures may block users from accessing to the “inappropriate” content, one way or another you can go through and still access to the content. However, within the new bill, blocking will be URL-based and the possibility of going around bans will not be possible.
* Most importantly, user will not know whether the content they are looking for is restricted. The user will never be aware.
* When the user will click on the URL, there is three options: First, it will never open, second, it will be forwarded to another page, third, it will lead to an irrelevant information.
* It will be possible to track down the users who clicked on the content with URL-based restrictions.
* Authorities need to go through a legal process to block content within the current law. However, authorities will be able to block within the new bill. (EKN/BM)