RTÜK imposes maximum penalties on HBO Max, Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has decided to impose sanctions on four digital platforms during a meeting where it evaluated recent broadcasting violations. The Supreme Council announced that content removal and administrative fines will be applied for certain productions featured on HBO Max, Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+.

It was stated that the decisions were made within the scope of the articles regarding broadcasting service principles in Law No. 6112 on the Establishment and Broadcasting Services of Radio and Television. RTÜK cited obscenity, content promoting violence, child abuse, and violations of the nation's national and moral values and general morality as the grounds for the sanctions.

WHICH SANCTIONS WERE APPLIED TO WHICH PLATFORM?

RTÜK determined that the documentary film "Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story," broadcast on HBO Max, violated the provisions in the first paragraph of Article 8 of Law No. 6112, which states that broadcasts "cannot be contrary to the national and moral values of society, general morality, and the principle of protecting the family" and "cannot be obscene." In this context, HBO Max was issued a content removal order and a 3 percent administrative fine.

For the series "Spartacus: House of Ashur" on Prime Video, it was stated that provisions prohibiting broadcasts that are obscene or that promote or normalize violence were violated. The platform was issued a content removal order and a 5 percent administrative fine.

The film "Heartstopper: Forever," broadcast on Netflix, also came to the Supreme Council's agenda. RTÜK announced that Netflix was issued a content removal order and a 3 percent administrative fine on the grounds that the film violated the provision that broadcasts "cannot be contrary to the national and moral values of society, general morality, and the principle of protecting the family."

In the decision taken for the series "A Teacher," broadcast on Disney+, emphasis was placed on child abuse. RTÜK assessed that the way the relationship between a teacher and their underage student was handled in the series obscured the nature of the abuse and carried the risk of normalizing it. Disney+ was issued a content removal order and a 5 percent administrative fine.

News Source: 12punto