Turkey's media watchdog threatens to block 3 international outlets
Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog will give three international media organizations a matter of days to obtain a formal license and avoid being blocked in a first use of its regulatory authority outside the country.
Turkey’s state-run broadcasting watchdog delivered a 72-hour deadline Wednesday to three international media organizations to either obtain a formal license or have their content blocked.
The ultimatum delivered by the Radio and Television Supreme Council, or RTUK, to the Turkish-language services of the Voice of America, Germany’s Deutsche Welle and Euronews was made public by the body’s board member from the main opposition Republican People’s Party.
Ilhan Tasci noted in a tweet that the decision had been made by a majority of votes and marked the first time RTUK has used its regulatory authority over international news outlets. If they fail to comply, access to their sites will be blocked, Tasci said.
Turkey, a NATO member and an aspiring member of the European Union, is among the world’s worst offenders in terms of media freedom. The estimates vary because of the nature of the crimes journalists are convicted of — related either directly to their writing or to alleged links to terror groups — but dozens are currently behind bars.
