WebProNews

Turkey Shuts Out YouTube

If you're reading this story in January of 2008, rest assured that it's not a reprint.  You can pretty much get by with recalling an old article, though, because for the third or so separate time, Turkey's government has become upset with YouTube and banned the video-sharing site.

Turkey Blocks YouTube

A court in the eastern city of Sivas, Turkey, ordered the country’s telecom company to block YouTube access from the country, according to AP. The ban comes after the video site hosted a video insulting Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, as well as President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the army.

Turkey Takes Censorship Several Steps Further

Over two months ago, authorities in Turkey found a video on YouTube that implied Ataturk, the country’s founder, was gay.  Turkey banned YouTube, YouTube removed the clip, and the Turkish government got way too cocky - it’s now reserved the legal right to block any website with content it finds offensive to Ataturk’s memory.

YouTube, Turkey Resolve Their Differences

The court-ordered ban lasted two days, but it's over now - YouTube is once again accessible in Turkey. But in order to appease the court, the video-sharing site removed a certain clip; hard feelings remain among both freedom-of-speech supporters and those who were offended by the video.