"I'm Not A Dictator" - "Turkish Ministers Will Be Able to Give Internet Censor Orders Directly”

"I'm Not A Dictator" - "Turkish Ministers Will Be Able to Give Internet Censor Orders Directly”(bianet).

Bianet interviewed Serhat Koç, an advocate and telecommunications lawyer for Turkey’s Pirate Party, on the Draft Bill No 5651 on the internet services in Turkey.

“If the draft will be implemented, the life will harder for internet users in Turkey. Censors on citizen journalism, scientific research and social media will be a routine,” he said.

He also added that new institutions will allows authorities to implement Censors in skyrocket speed.

“Due to censorship, service providers will enhance their auto-censor mechanisms and alternative methods like DNS change will no longer work,” he added.

Bill increases the likelihood of censor.

The draft bill also put hate speech in the category for internet ban. This is the most problematic aspect of the bill, maybe.

Because Turkish Penal Code interprets hate speech towards “Islam, Muslims, Turkish-ness, Sunni sect”.

As a result, we observe cases like the ones of Fazıl Say and Sevan Nişanyan who have been convicted of charges related to freedom expression. Websites like “yenidonem.com” (newera.com) are closed down. Even though hate speech is important, I am pretty skeptical about how it will be interpreted on the internet. Some many website might be closed down because of that.

What else is in there?

The new draft compels judges to respond to internet-based “right violations complaints” in 24 hours. 

Considering that most of our judges have little idea about the internet, it is highly doubtful how they will make their decisions. We have faith on them! It is also up to İnternet Geliştirme Kurulu (Internet Improvement Institution) to decide on situations like monitoring, restriction, application or inspection.

It is something like National Security Agency in the U.S. It will also enable ministers and telecommunication authorities to be compatible on giving internet censor orders directly.Hmmm.......Erdogan : "I'm not a dictator. It's not even in my blood,"Read the full story here.