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Istanbul clashes over Turkey's new internet laws | Istanbul clashes over Turkey's new internet laws |
(1 day later) | |
Turkish riot police have fired water cannon and tear gas at hundreds of demonstrators marching in Istanbul in protest at new laws tightening government control of the internet. | Turkish riot police have fired water cannon and tear gas at hundreds of demonstrators marching in Istanbul in protest at new laws tightening government control of the internet. |
Demonstrators threw fireworks and stones at police cordoning off Taksim Square, the city's main square. | Demonstrators threw fireworks and stones at police cordoning off Taksim Square, the city's main square. |
The president is under pressure not to ratify the legislation. | The president is under pressure not to ratify the legislation. |
It includes powers allowing authorities to block websites for privacy violations without a court decision. | It includes powers allowing authorities to block websites for privacy violations without a court decision. |
The opposition says it is part of a government attempt to stifle a corruption scandal. | The opposition says it is part of a government attempt to stifle a corruption scandal. |
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denied accusations of censorship, saying the legislation would make the internet "more safe and free". | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denied accusations of censorship, saying the legislation would make the internet "more safe and free". |
The Turkish parliament approved the bill last week. | The Turkish parliament approved the bill last week. |
As well as allowing Turkey's telecommunications authority to block websites without first seeking a court ruling, it will also force internet providers to store data on web users' activities for two years and make it available to the authorities. | As well as allowing Turkey's telecommunications authority to block websites without first seeking a court ruling, it will also force internet providers to store data on web users' activities for two years and make it available to the authorities. |
'Scourge' of Twitter | 'Scourge' of Twitter |
Internet access in Turkey is already restricted and thousands of websites blocked. | Internet access in Turkey is already restricted and thousands of websites blocked. |
Mr Erdogan has been openly critical of the internet, describing Twitter as a "scourge" and condemning social media as "the worst menace to society". | Mr Erdogan has been openly critical of the internet, describing Twitter as a "scourge" and condemning social media as "the worst menace to society". |
Both Twitter and Facebook were widely used by anti-government protesters to spread information during demonstrations last year. | Both Twitter and Facebook were widely used by anti-government protesters to spread information during demonstrations last year. |
The corruption scandal broke in December with the arrest of businessmen close to the prime minister and three ministers' sons. | The corruption scandal broke in December with the arrest of businessmen close to the prime minister and three ministers' sons. |
Since then, Mr Erdogan's government has sacked hundreds of police officers and executives from banking and telecoms regulators and state television. | Since then, Mr Erdogan's government has sacked hundreds of police officers and executives from banking and telecoms regulators and state television. |
Mr Erdogan says the scandal is an attempt by a US-based cleric with influence in the police and judiciary to unseat him. The cleric, Fethullah Gulen, denies this. | Mr Erdogan says the scandal is an attempt by a US-based cleric with influence in the police and judiciary to unseat him. The cleric, Fethullah Gulen, denies this. |