Turkey blocks Deutsche Welle and Voice of America websites

July 1 () –

The Turkish authorities have announced the blocking of the websites of the German television channel Deutsche Welle and the American radio station Voice of America, arguing that they have not claimed the necessary licenses, after a request in this regard by the Turkish Radio Corporation and Television from (RTUK).

“Access to Deutsche Welle Turkish and Voice of America, which did not claim a license, has been blocked by an Ankara justice of the peace at the request of the RTUK Presidency,” the body’s president, Ilhan Tasci, said in a message on your account on the social network Twitter. “Here is your freedom of the press and advanced democracy,” he has argued.

The German chain has confirmed that access has been blocked to its pages in 32 languages, while the Voice of America has also confirmed that access to its website has been blocked, according to the German news agency DPA. Deutsche Welle has announced that it will take legal action against the decision.

RTUK gave three media outlets, including the two affected by the blockade, notice to obtain licenses under a regulation that came into force in August 2019 and was criticized by activists for the possibility that it was used to censor due to because the body gained authority to control all content on the Internet.

Thus, the body has the power to request emission licenses from “media service providers” so that their services keep their web pages operational, while it has the power to impose fines, suspend broadcasts for three months or cancel licenses if they do not They are in line with their standards.