Authorities of Turkey made an attempt to block access to the video streaming site YouTube on March 27, 2014, after they attempted a similar action against micro-blogging site Twitter. The latest move will provoke additional outrage in the country where social media is extremely popular among internet users.
The technology minister of Turkey, Fikri Isik stated that the national telecommunications authority was ordering the block as a form of precaution. The measure was taken after a government security meeting’s audio recording was leaked on YouTube. However, the attempt to block the popular website failed, despite action being taken by the government.
The country’s key allies, such as the United States, as well as the European Union previously criticized the move by Turkey, which was made against Twitter. The countries called the move a restriction on free speech, in addition to being a step backward for the Turkish democracy. The ban was imposed after the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a threat to ‘rip out the roots’ of the micro-blogging site.
The ban against the video streaming site came after an audio recording of a meeting between Turkey’s foreign minister, intelligence chief and top military officials was leaked online. The meeting had people discussing a military intervention in Syria, which is a sensitive political issue in Turkey.
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