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The High Council of Radio and Television of Turkey (RTUK) blocked access to the websites of the German network ‘Deutsche Welle’ and the American ‘Voice of America’. The regulator said the measure, ordered by a court, is due to broadcast license issues. However, press freedom organizations see the ban as an attempt by the government of Recep Tayip Erdogan to control information ahead of the 2023 elections.
‘Deutsche Welle’ and ‘Voice of America’ are out of broadcast in Turkey.
The Higher Audiovisual Council (RTUK), the regulatory body for the media in the country, executed the order issued by a court to block its signals.
According to the new provisions of the Turkish authorities, international media broadcasting television content in their country, via the Internet, must apply for a license.
The notification was delivered since last February to the two affected media outlets and to the French chain ‘Euronews’, in compliance with a media law enacted in 2019. Since then, Ankara warned that otherwise, “they would face a emission ban” and the blocking of its web pages.
The France-based channel escaped regulation after changing its website and broadcast format in Turkish, while ‘VOA’ and ‘DW’ declined to comply.
From then on, a judicial process was opened that culminated in the decision of a court, on Thursday, June 30, to prohibit its transmission.
“Access to ‘DW’ and ‘Voice of America’, which did not apply for licenses, has been blocked by the Ankara Criminal Court of Peace, at the request of the RTUK board (…) Here is your freedom of the press and democracy advanced!” sarcastically assured Ilhan Tasci, a member of the board of the media regulator and member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, who has repeatedly shown his rejection of the new regulations.
However, the deputy director of the Regulatory Council, Ibrahim Uslu, dismissed the criticism and said that the decision “has nothing to do with censorship, but is part of technical measures.”
‘DW’ anticipates legal action
The German radio and television network explained in a statement that it did not apply for the license because it “would have allowed the Turkish government to censor editorial content.”
“For example, broadcast-licensed media outlets in Turkey are required to remove online content that RTUK deems inappropriate. This is simply unacceptable for an independent broadcaster,” said Peter Limbourg, the company’s CEO.
Limbourg added that his company will take legal action against the decision. ‘Voice of America’ has not yet confirmed if it will take similar measures.
Turkey’s powers over foreign media through licenses
Three years ago when the new media legislation was enacted, various press freedom advocates raised concerns about possible censorship, as the regulation gives RTUK the authority to control all online content.
The regulations allow the agency to impose fines, suspend broadcasting for three months or cancel broadcasting permits if the licensed media outlets do not follow RTUK principles.
Turkey’s High Council for Radio and Television is controlled mostly by delegates appointed by President Recep Tayip Erdogan’s Islamist party and its far-right allies.
The opposition and press freedom organizations point out that behind the blockade of international channels is the Erdogan government’s attempt to control information, especially ahead of the 2023 elections. Foreign channels had become a source of information outside the pro-government discourse of most local media.
With AP and local media
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