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License dispute: Turkey blocks Deutsche Welle's website

2022-07-01T07:52:19.310Z


Deutsche Welle was supposed to apply for a license for its online offering in Turkey, but saw the danger of censorship as a result. The authorities have now shut down the broadcaster's website.


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Deutsche Welle logo

Photo: Marius Becker / dpa

The Deutsche Welle (DW) website can no longer be accessed in Turkey.

As the broadcaster confirmed on Friday morning, the online offer of German international broadcasting has been blocked in all 32 broadcast languages ​​since Thursday evening.

The Turkish broadcasting supervisory authority RTÜK had previously announced the move.

The US foreign broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) is also affected.

DW announced that it would take legal action against the ban.

In the social media, users could find out how censorship can be circumvented.

Months ago, the Turkish control authority had asked foreign broadcasters to apply for a license for Internet offerings.

"DW did not comply because licensing would have enabled the Turkish government to censor editorial content," the broadcaster said.

Intendant Peter Limbourg said that this was personally explained to the head of the authority.

»Simply unacceptable for an independent media provider«

For example, licensed media are obliged to delete online content that RTÜK deems inappropriate.

»That is simply unacceptable for an independent media provider.«

The request to apply for a license is based on a regulation that came into force in 2019.

The Islamic conservative government has introduced far-reaching controls over Internet platforms that distribute films, videos or radio content.

Today, about 90 percent of mainstream media in Turkey is state-owned or government-affiliated, according to Reuters news agency.

Representatives close to the government also have a majority in the RTÜK body.

fek/dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-07-01

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