Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım made statements regarding the claims that Facebook would be shut down.
Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım, regarding the claims that Facebook would also be shut down after YouTube, stated, "There are 30 blocking decisions concerning the social media site. No action has been taken against these decisions, and no appeal has been made to a higher court."
Minister Yıldırım, who attended the opening ceremony of Cebit Bilişim Eurasia, evaluated the importance of informatics in the context of countries and individuals. Yıldırım noted that sweat of the brow has been replaced by sweat of the mind, saying the internet has become an enormous platform that eliminates time and borders in matters related to government, commerce, and tourism.
Before cutting the opening ribbon of Cebit, Yıldırım, answering journalists' questions, stated that Turkey is a state of law and that the executive cannot interfere with decisions taken by the judiciary. He said there are 30 blocking decisions in the background of this matter, and that the social media site has taken no action against these decisions, has not engaged with the administration, and has not appealed to a higher court.
Yıldırım emphasized that if Facebook appeals to a higher court, the problem could be overcome.
E-Government Statement
Minister Binali Yıldırım also gave the following response to a question about the e-government project:
With the new regulation we will make, it will be determined which institution will be the authorized body for the e-government gateway and what its authorities will be. Articles hindering the development of services will be changed. The way will be opened for local governments to provide services through the e-government gateway.
Statement by the TIB President
TIB President Şimşek said, "The insult crime regarding Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu has no relation whatsoever with access blocking."
Telecommunications Communication President Fethi Şimşek said that Facebook could also be shut down. Şimşek said, "If the content is not removed despite the warning and the court issues an access blocking decision, then access is blocked."
Şimşek explained that Law No. 5651 has two articles concerning access blockings and content removals, that Article 8 lists catalog crimes in a limited manner, and that Article 9 allows a person who claims their rights have been violated due to any content on the internet to apply to the content provider or hosting provider.
According to Şimşek, if content containing catalog crimes under Article 8 is hosted and the content is not removed despite warnings, access can be blocked by a court order. However, he stated that in the incident concerning Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, there was no situation related to catalog crimes and that the crime of insult is not directly related to access blocking.
Facebook's shutdown can only occur if it hosts content related to catalog crimes. If it is not removed despite a warning and the court also issues an access blocking decision, then access can be blocked.
