Some countries are, shall I say, a tad irked over their citizens using social media outlets to voice their opinions. Turkey is the latest in a long line of countries that are stopping access to the social media website. Currently any Twitter users in Turkey are being redirected to a statement by Turkey’s telecommunications regulator when they try to access the website. The message on the website cites a court order to apply “protection measures” on the website.
This move comes after Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a vow to “wipe out Twitter” after allegations were made about his ‘inner circle’. The Turkish Prime Minister said, “I don’t care what the international community says at all. Everyone will see the power of the Turkish Republic”
The allegations about the PM were backed by evidence of corruption and this ‘evidence’ was leaked on Twitter and shared and shared about and it didn’t take too long before it became public knowledge. The PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan vehemently denies these claims.
This move by the government is not the first time the Turkish authorities showed they favour older more ‘conservative’ approach to matters. In 2008 they imposed a ban on YouTube because of uploaded videos that were deemed by some to be insulting to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the country’s founder. The ban was lifted, but it took 2 years to do so. The authorities may have put this ban in place, but the people will, no doubt, find a way to voice their concerns.
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