Turkey legalizes the internet censorship despite protests
February 6, 2014
Turkey’s parliament has passed legislation which toughens government control over the internet. Critics say PM Tayyip Erdogan’s government is attacking freedom of expression and investigative journalism with the move.
The bill, which is yet to be signed into law by the Turkish president, would allow the authorities to block websites without a court order within just hours. It also requires that internet service providers (ISPs) store data on their clients’ online activities for two years and provide it to the authorities on request. The new bill was passed late Wednesday by the parliament dominated by the Erdogan’s AKP party, is part of a package. The package is meant to consolidate government’s power amid a corruption inquiry, which the prime minister calls a “judicial coup” against his government.