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Turkey's new Internet law contradicts its EU ambitions

New Turkish legislation on the Internet stands in stark contrast with the democratic norms of the European Union.
A man tries to get connected to the youtube web site with his tablet at a cafe in Istanbul March 27, 2014. The Turkish telecoms authority TIB said on Thursday it had taken an "administrative measure" against YouTube, a week after it blocked access to microblogging site Twitter. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) - RTR3IUSP

The Turkish state has equipped itself with even more authority to monitor its Internet users, contradicting its new government's re-energized EU drive in a potential blow to democratic rights of free speech and privacy.

Just a week before the Turkish government announced its new “EU strategy,” which was featured prominently in its program, parliament approved a government-sponsored omnibus bill on Sept. 9.

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