Just days after blocking access to Twitter, the Turkish government has done the same for YouTube. The Video-sharing site is now unavailable through all ISPs.
Access has been blocked by Telecommunication Communication Presidency.
The Turkish telecoms authority TIB confirmed today it has taken “administrative measure” against the Google-owned platform.
It reads: “After technical analysis and legal consideration based on the Law Nr. 5651, ADMINISTRATION MEASURE has been taken for this website (Youtube.com) according to Decision Nr. 490.05.01.2014.-48125 dated 27/03/2014 of Telekomünikasyon İletişim Başkanlığı.”
This is another desperate and depressing move in Turkey,” European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said. “I express my support for all those supporters of real freedom and democracy. We in Europe stand for an open Internet and free expression on it.”
Earlier this week, Google had declined requests from the Turkish government to remove a video that allegedly points to government corruption. It reportedly includes a recording of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, in which he tells his son to hide cash from investigators. The video has now been watched millions of times.
