MLSA Turkey's internet freedom watchdog FreeWebTurkey curated last week's internet censorship news for you:
Access blocked to news of alleged abuse by Ağrı's Acting Director of Culture and Tourism
In a recent wave of internet censorship in Turkey, access to news reports and tweets concerning allegations of child athlete abuse by Erkan Kösedağ, the Acting Director of Culture and Tourism in Ağrı and the President of the Ağrı Amateur Sports Clubs Federation, has been blocked. Journalist Metin Cihan's tweets, which detailed these allegations, have been particularly targeted by these access restrictions. This move is part of broader efforts to control the flow of information within the country regarding sensitive issues.
The decision to restrict access was made by the Association of Access Providers on April 19, resulting in a total of 15 of Metin Cihan's tweets being blocked. Additionally, a previous access restriction had been imposed on December 27, 2023, following a request from Erkan Kösedağ. This earlier decision was authorized by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace in Ağrı, highlighting an ongoing effort to control the dissemination of sensitive information related to these allegations. These developments further underline the challenges faced in accessing unbiased information in Turkey, as government and legal bodies intervene in media and internet content related to public figures and their actions.
Metin Cihan's tweets on alleged abuse reach over 25 million views
Despite efforts to restrict their visibility, Metin Cihan's tweets concerning the alleged abuse of child athletes by a prominent Turkish official have garnered a significant amount of attention. Between the initial block in December 2023 and the subsequent one in April 2024, these tweets received a staggering 25 million 206 thousand views, underscoring the public's interest in the case and the impact of censorship on spreading awareness.
Access ban on The Sun reporter's news about aesthetic tourism in Turkey
In a separate case highlighting issues around internet censorship in Turkey, access was blocked to news reports including a piece by The Sun journalist Thea Jacobs. Jacobs was investigating the aesthetic surgery sector within Turkey's booming health tourism industry and went undercover as a prospective patient for a buttock lift surgery. Her report, which included her experiences with inappropriate behavior from a Turkish doctor during a promotional event in London organized by Ekol International Hospitals, was barred from access by a decision from the Izmir 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace on April 16. These actions not only impede journalistic inquiry but also raise significant concerns about transparency and freedom of the press in Turkey.
News on internal police structure and political affiliations face censorship in Turkey
Access to various news reports in Turkey has been restricted, including a significant article by T24 writer Tolga Şardan that detailed an internal structure within the police known as "Menzil." The article discussed the involvement of former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and revealed that Murat Esertürk, the Deputy Director of Police in Mersin, admitted to being part of this structure. The access to this news was blocked following a request by Esertürk, with the Ankara 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace issuing the decision on April 3.
In a separate case, news about the relationship between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Polat Yağcı, owner of Poll Production, was also censored. Reports that Yağcı facilitated artist support for AKP's Istanbul mayoral candidate Murat Kurum during the March 31 local elections were restricted following a ruling by the Istanbul 7th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on April 5.
RadioBox got an access ban on Google Play
Furthermore, the digital domain has not been spared from censorship efforts either. The free radio listening app, Radyo Kutusu, was blocked on Google Play due to not having the necessary broadcasting license, according to a decision by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) made on April 2. A similar decision was also applied to another popular radio app, AndroTurk Radyo, which was downloaded over one million times, indicating the broad scope of content restriction online.
