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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Turks voice defiance over Twitter ban | Turks voice defiance over Twitter ban |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Some 2.5 million tweets were posted within three hours of Twitter getting blocked in Turkey. | Some 2.5 million tweets were posted within three hours of Twitter getting blocked in Turkey. |
| Just before midnight on Thursday, over 10 million users started wondering why they could not access the site. | Just before midnight on Thursday, over 10 million users started wondering why they could not access the site. |
| The reason soon became clear, as users who managed to access Twitter via workarounds started sharing screenshots of what appeared to be a statement by Turkey's telecommunications regulator. | The reason soon became clear, as users who managed to access Twitter via workarounds started sharing screenshots of what appeared to be a statement by Turkey's telecommunications regulator. |
| The statement said "protective measures" had been taken against the social network following three court orders and a prosecutor's decision. | The statement said "protective measures" had been taken against the social network following three court orders and a prosecutor's decision. |
| However, on Friday Istanbul's chief prosecutor was quoted by a Turkish daily as saying "no decision was taken by the prosecution" and the ban was of an executive nature. | However, on Friday Istanbul's chief prosecutor was quoted by a Turkish daily as saying "no decision was taken by the prosecution" and the ban was of an executive nature. |
| Hints of the ban had actually come earlier in the day when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to "wipe out" Twitter. | Hints of the ban had actually come earlier in the day when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to "wipe out" Twitter. |
| At an election rally in the north-western town of Bursa, he said: "We now have a court order. I do not care what the international community says. Everyone will see the strength of the Republic of Turkey." | At an election rally in the north-western town of Bursa, he said: "We now have a court order. I do not care what the international community says. Everyone will see the strength of the Republic of Turkey." |
| 'Civil disobedience' | 'Civil disobedience' |
| The Twitter ban comes after wiretapped recordings of corruption allegations involving Mr Erdogan and members of his family were posted and shared online. | The Twitter ban comes after wiretapped recordings of corruption allegations involving Mr Erdogan and members of his family were posted and shared online. |
| The prime minister said these recordings were fake and edited. | The prime minister said these recordings were fake and edited. |
| Turkey's internet watchdog, the Communication Technologies Institution (CTI), said it had previously asked Twitter to remove some content alleged to invade the privacy of others. | Turkey's internet watchdog, the Communication Technologies Institution (CTI), said it had previously asked Twitter to remove some content alleged to invade the privacy of others. |
| The watchdog stated that the ban had been introduced because Twitter "did not abide by the court decisions". | The watchdog stated that the ban had been introduced because Twitter "did not abide by the court decisions". |
| Earlier this month, the CTI was given extraordinary powers under a new internet law that tightened government control of the internet. | Earlier this month, the CTI was given extraordinary powers under a new internet law that tightened government control of the internet. |
| However, there is now a major debate about whether a court order to remove content could be interpreted as a blanket ban on the micro-blogging website. | However, there is now a major debate about whether a court order to remove content could be interpreted as a blanket ban on the micro-blogging website. |
| Despite the ban, millions are still taking to Twitter in what has been called "an act of civil disobedience". | Despite the ban, millions are still taking to Twitter in what has been called "an act of civil disobedience". |
| Reports suggest there has even been a surge of posted tweets since Thursday night. | Reports suggest there has even been a surge of posted tweets since Thursday night. |
| This is largely due to the Turkish internet community getting increasingly tech-savvy because of past and present bans on various social websites. | This is largely due to the Turkish internet community getting increasingly tech-savvy because of past and present bans on various social websites. |
| Twitter users were able to continue posting by changing their Domain Name Settings (DNS) on their computers or downloading certain Virtual Private Network applications on their smart phones. | Twitter users were able to continue posting by changing their Domain Name Settings (DNS) on their computers or downloading certain Virtual Private Network applications on their smart phones. |
| Advice on how to circumvent the ban was also broadcast on some television channels, published on liberal-leaning newspapers, and even shared on the streets as graffiti of DNS numbers emerged on walls. | Advice on how to circumvent the ban was also broadcast on some television channels, published on liberal-leaning newspapers, and even shared on the streets as graffiti of DNS numbers emerged on walls. |
| Presidential protest | Presidential protest |
| One of those who were able to post on Twitter was none other than Turkish President Abdullah Gul. | One of those who were able to post on Twitter was none other than Turkish President Abdullah Gul. |
| He posted five consecutive tweets and in one of these he said: "An overall shutdown of social media platforms cannot be approved." | He posted five consecutive tweets and in one of these he said: "An overall shutdown of social media platforms cannot be approved." |
| Mr Gul also tweeted his "hope that this practice [of a Twitter ban] will not last for long". | Mr Gul also tweeted his "hope that this practice [of a Twitter ban] will not last for long". |
| At least four government ministers have joined him in his push for a lifting of the ban. | At least four government ministers have joined him in his push for a lifting of the ban. |
| It is not the first time internet users in Turkey have been faced with a ban or blocking of access to social websites. | It is not the first time internet users in Turkey have been faced with a ban or blocking of access to social websites. |
| In 2008, the government blocked access to the website because of videos deemed insulting to the country's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. | In 2008, the government blocked access to the website because of videos deemed insulting to the country's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. |
| Authorities lifted the ban in 2010. | |
| Earlier this month, Mr Erdogan also threatened to shut down Facebook and YouTube "if necessary". | Earlier this month, Mr Erdogan also threatened to shut down Facebook and YouTube "if necessary". |
| The European Union and the US have already expressed concerns over the present blocking on Twitter. | The European Union and the US have already expressed concerns over the present blocking on Twitter. |
| With local elections taking place in less than 10 days, many people in Turkey are concerned that the tension might increase. | With local elections taking place in less than 10 days, many people in Turkey are concerned that the tension might increase. |