Turkish prime minister draws comparisons to Hitler over ‘Orwellian’ Internet restrictions

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/06/turkish-prime-minister-draws-comparisons-to-hitler-over-orwellian-internet-restrictions/



Turkish prime minister draws comparisons to Hitler over ‘Orwellian’ Internet restrictions
By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, February 6, 2014 7:40 EST

Turkish lawmakers approved legislation late on Wednesday that will tighten government controls over the Internet, in a move roundly criticized as a fresh assault on freedom of expression, access to information and investigative journalism.

The text notably permits a government agency, the Telecommunications Communications Presidency (TIB), to block access to websites without court authorization if they are deemed to violate privacy or promote content seen as “insulting.”

The legislation will also force Internet providers to keep records on web users’ activities for two years and make them available to authorities when requested, without notifying the users.

The proposals come amid parallel moves by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to push through contentious judicial reforms as he fights to keep the lid on a deeply damaging corruption probe entangling some of his closest allies.