Approved article gives Turkish gov't power to shut down websites in four hours

Parliament has approved a key article of the contentious omnibus bill which gives power to the prime minister and other ministers to shut down websites within four hours, just six months after a similar bill was overturned by the Constitutional Court.

Parliament approved 13 more articles of the omnibus bill late March 12. A key article stipulates that ministers will have the power to order the removal or blocking of an online publication for ?defending the right to live, securing property, ensuring national security and public order, preventing crime or protecting public health.?

The Telecommunications Directorate (T?B) could enforce the request of the ministry, as a blanket ban of the website if deemed necessary, within a maximum of four hours.

The T?B would then submit the decision to the judge of a criminal court of peace within 24 hours for approval. The judge would have to issue a ruling in 48 hours. If no verdict is issued, the ban would automatically be revoked.

According to the law, the T?B would also file criminal complaints by applying to prosecutors regarding the content of the website. Domain or service providers would be required to submit the necessary information to help locate the suspects of the crime through a court order. 

Providers that do not submit this information could be given fines amounting to revenue earned between 3,000 and 10,000 days. Providers that do not enforce a decision to block or remove content, on the other hand, would have to pay an administrative fine from 50,000 to 500,000 liras. Authorities would also be able to revoke their provider licenses in Turkey.

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