TURKEY COMBATS CYBER CRIME

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2009 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ More than 1,500 websites are currently banned in
Turkey, access to most of which was blocked following complaints by
individuals over inappropriate content on these sites.

Turkey’s Telecommunications Directorate has blocked 1,591 Web sites
since last year under the law against cyber crime, which includes a
wide range of offenses. Nearly half of the site-blocking rulings were
issued due to the content involving the sexual exploitation of children
online .This was followed by obscenity as the main reason for the
closure of 539 sites. Other reasons included online prostitution (13),
facilitating narcotics acquisition (3), encouraging suicidal behavior
(1), illegal gambling sites (85), providing a physical location and
the opportunity for gambling (88) and other reasons (165). Abuse of
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s memory was the reason for blocking 52 websites.

Constant bans on scores of websites drew the ire of nongovernmental
organizations in Turkey, which called on authorities not to restrict
the scope of freedom of individuals who wish to have full usage of
the Internet and find alternative methods to combat undesired content
on websites.

Internet Technology Association (ITD) President Mustafa Akgul said
the bans on Web sites were a result of Turkey’s war against the
Internet. "Blocking Web sites creates an impression that Turkey has
not fully comprehended what the Internet is. I compare these bans to
the situation of an ostrich, which buries its head in the sand not to
see the reality. Turkey is harming itself, knowingly or unknowingly,
with such bans," he stated.

Akgul went on to say that the authorities should find alternative
methods to fight against the undesired content of websites. "Many
road accidents occur in this country every day, but we do not forbid
people from driving cars, do we? So why ban websites? These sites
are a means of communication between individuals and the world. It
is not logical to forbid people from establishing communication with
the world," he remarked.

Tansel Parlak, a representative of the Young Civilians – a civil
society group known for its use of sarcasm in protests, said Turkey
places itself in an awkward position by banning websites.

"Bans are outdated and there are many ways to circumvent them. The
authorities should find more effective solutions to fight against their
problems with the Internet. Banning a Web site contravenes human rights
and restricts people’s freedom," he added, Today’s Zaman reports.