Turkish legislators are working on new legislation that will allow the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) to issue licenses for media content providers who broadcast online, in what is a new step to restrict anti-government websites online, according to cyber rights advocate and professor of law Yaman Akdeniz.
Under the new law, if RTÜK finds "violations" of licensing rules, it might decide for the closure of the content provider, or block access if the content providers' servers are located abroad. The licenses will be called "broadcast conveyance document," in the bill's jargon.
Internet rights expert Akdeniz, who gave a statement to Elif Akgül from Bianet, said the bill specifically targeted oppositional or anti-government news websites.
"Normally, online access could be blocked by politicians, ministries, the president's office, the prime ministry and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) and now they have added RTÜK to that list."
Three types of media content providers will be affected by the new legislation he said. "First, organizations that are based in Turkey and which publish visual broadcast will be targeted," Akdeniz said although the recent discussions stemmed from an online video published on the website A9 which belongs to Adnan Oktar, the leader of a quasi-Islamist sect.
He said the government essentially wants to restrict anti-government news websites such as Artı TV or Özgürüz, which target Turkish audiences although being based abroad.
Akdeniz said online video-streaming platforms such as Netflix, Puhu TV and Blu TV, whose shows are currently not monitored by RTÜK are in the third category.
Live streaming on Facebook or Periscope might also be affected by the law.
Akdeniz said because satellite or radio frequency stations are restricted in number, licenses are necassary. However, there are no restrictions on the internet. "For this reason the main purpose of thi bill is to prevent the channels user access to get news and information."
