Turkey internet law raises 'serious concerns' for EU

The Turkish Parliament approved an Internet law that may conflict with the EU's standards. Image: Wiki Images

"This law is raising serious concerns here. The law in its current form introduces several restrictions on freedom of expression," Commission spokesman Peter Stano said.

"The Turkish public deserves more information and more transparency, not more restrictions," he said.

"Since Turkey is a candidate for EU membership, its law needs to be revised in line with European standards," Stano told a press briefing.

The EU's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele - who leads the talks on Turkey's EU membership - says the EU has made it clear several times that Turkey must meet this and other recent legal changes.

"These issues are regularly raised and discussed when the Commissioner meets his Turkish counterpart. We are raising these issues constantly," Fuele said.

Parliament in Ankara passed the new Internet law on, sparking fresh charges that embattled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is cracking down on press and other freedoms to stop a deeply damaging corruption probe entangling some of his closest allies.

The law allows a government agency, the Telecommunications Communications Presidency (TIB), to block access to websites without a court order if these sites are deemed to violate privacy or have content seen as "insulting".

The TIB will also be able to request users' communications and traffic information from providers who will be obliged to keep records of up to two years' worth of data, again without a court order.

Critics said the measures, besides their domestic impact, would make the already difficult talks on EU membership even more problematic.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge