Twitter : New attack on freedom of expesión

l midnight Thursday, the Authority for Information Technology and Communication (BTK) proceeded to block Twitter on the Turkish Internet. The closure was preceded by three court rulings and a decision of the Attorney. But also of the Prime Minister Erdogan threats just hours before, when he warned that “eradicate” Twitter “no matter what you say the international community”.

To the 9% of almost 36 million Turkish Internet, active users of Twitter-it 3% of the market share of the social network- has run out tweeting. However, were not a few who, a few minutes to check that Internet providers had closed service 140 characters in both the home network and 3G, started promotion of alternative methods for the volver 'tuitear’.

Activists, journalists and even political parties, these days in the municipal election campaign of 30 March, disseminated tutorials and explanations of how to configure computers to dodge censorship. Us Twitter, through his account @ policy, offered to Turkish tweeters phone numbers to which send SMS to continue publishing his impressions of the social network.

“Freedom is not to interfere in the private lives or filter the entire world of state secrets through these channels”, was justified on the afternoon of Monday the Turkish premier, during a rally, plans to kill Twitter. Hours after, Office of the Prime Minister stated that, indeed, closure loomed for service “disregard” repeated injunctions to delete certain links published.

Shortly after two o'clock Friday (00:00 GMT)‘#TwitterisblockedinTurkey’ era ‘Trending Topic’ world. Three hours after Turkish Internet providers no longer offer their page, Twitter registraba 2.474.917 'Tweets’ in Turkish. Governmental censorship plans had no effect.

The “we do not care what the international community” not prevented the U.S. State Department issued, late-night, a statement that showed “very worried” by the virtual closure. Twitter announced that it was “investigating the situation”.

Turkey aspires to join the European Union with the support of some countries, including Spain. However, Erdogan's decision has provoked an angry reaction from the European Commissioner for own new technologies, Neelie Kroes. Through its own service, Kroes says “Twitter ban in Turkey is unfounded and unnecessary and cowardly”. “The Turkish people and the international community see this as censorship”, adds.

First thing in the morning, an official source of BTK assured Reuters that authorities have no plans to block access to other social platforms like Facebook, and that blocking is because Twitter users by repeated complaints about breaches privacicad.

The 'tweeters’ Turks who had changed their connection as commented, although Internet legal reform, recently approved in Turkey, therefore could chase. According to this, service providers should be stored for a long period the traffic details and notify customers of any suspicious connection BTK, means, of escape all that the official channels and where Twitter is blocked.

Increasing censorship

The slam culminates Twitter escalating warnings that the Turkish prime minister had begun last summer, during anti-government protests born from environmental demonstrations protect from the cutting of Gezi park. “Twitter is a social threat”, Erdogan said. This fact did not refrain from tweeting follow you through your personal account, thatyou have 4,5 million followers.

With the advent of municipal elections, converted by the chief of staff in a plebiscite for the continuity of its policies-now supported by more than 49% Feedback- Twitter has become a battleground. The Turkish press reported, last September, that Party for Justice and Development (The AKP) Erdogan had hired an 'army’ of 6.000 Twitter users for support.

A month ago, maximum Turkish leader accused a 'Entrance robot’ using thousands of non-nominal accounts him Remote Control. This mechanism, popularly called 'bot', is commonly used for propaganda purposes or method to inflate the number of followers an account and win prestige. According to the paperFreedom, Twitter started to delete all bot electioneering, irrespective of the party they supported.

Powerful tool

According to a study by the Konda, the 77,6% local Internet users have reported what was happening in their country during protests Gezi via Twitter. 29 tweeters are facing trial for allegedly coordinating protests by Twitter “illegal” the eyes of the administration. Beyond, closing down the exchange occurs while the Turks, therethrough,alleged recordings linking Erdogan with corruption.

Since the 17 December, Anticorruption day released three operations that involved the environment of the Prime Minister, authorities have temporarily closed the video page Vimeo, who posted a recording of a sexual nature that appeared in high political office, and Soundcloud, where leaked earlier this year alleged incriminating telephone recording.

YouTube and Facebook are also in the sights of Tayyip Erdogan, according to the said 6 last March. Youtube, which was already closed for 18 months between 2008 and 2010 hosts most of the alleged telephone conversations leaked these days on various corruption gotten in the dome of the State. The Turkish leader, although implicitly assumes some good recordings, considers others a “mounting”.

For the Turkish Prime Minister, behind the leaks is the black hand of the sect of the theologian and former ally- Fethullah Gulen, known as Hizmet (Service). Erdogan accused of using its members, infiltrated the judiciary, false mounting corruption scandals. Some Twitter users Erdogan pro, after jumping blocking, anoche blamed the closing Gülen Twitter to turn the anger against the Turkish leader.