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Turkey bans YouTube after sensitive leak

Hours after an audio surveillance of a high-level secret meeting leaked, Turkey blocked access to YouTube.
YouTube logos displayed on a laptop screen partially covered with Turkey's national flag in this photo illustration taken in Ankara March 27, 2014.  Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan described the leaking on YouTube on Thursday of a recording of top security officials discussing possible military operations in Syria as "villainous" and the government blocked access to the video-sharing site. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS PORTRAIT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) - RTR3IVDE

On Thursday, March 27, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took to the stage at an election rally, and with a choked, screeching voice claimed he is surrounded by an “evil alliance” trying to bring him down. He further asked for people’s support to bring about a record-breaking victory in this Sunday's local elections. Then, a new audio surveillance recording was leaked on YouTube, revealing Turkey’s top state bureaucrats discussing preparations for plotting a war against Syria. Within a few hours, Turkey’s Communication Directorate (TIB) blocked access to the popular video-sharing website. The TIB also blocked access to Twitter beginning March 21, and there is speculation that Facebook will be blocked soon as well.

“This is yet another controversial decision by the TIB,” Ersan Sen, an Istanbul-based lawyer, told Al-Monitor. “There is no legal justification for this blocking. However, this government has granted judicial immunity to some key state officials and institutions, including the TIB. Although theirs is professional misconduct, they have judicial immunity.” Sen added, “That aside, there is all sorts of wrongdoing with that leaked audio surveillance recording. It’s first of all a spying activity.”

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