RTÜK imposes sanctions on 7 channels for broadcast violations

The Radio and Television Supreme Council held its meeting. During the meeting, sanctions were applied to 7 channels found to have committed broadcast violations.

RTÜK imposed maximum-level sanctions on several channels for violating the provisions of Article 8 of Law No. 6112, which states: "Broadcasts cannot be contrary to the principle of respect for human dignity and the privacy of individuals, and cannot contain expressions that are humiliating, degrading, or defamatory toward individuals or organizations beyond the limits of criticism." It also cited the provision: "No one can be declared guilty or portrayed as if they were guilty unless their guilt has been finalized by a court decision; regarding matters referred to the judiciary, broadcasts cannot influence the judicial process or its impartiality beyond their news value during the trial process."

SANCTION FOR CHANNEL PROMOTING CREAM

In the evaluation conducted by the Supreme Council's experts, it was determined that a pain relief cream product promoted in a program was presented as a solution to pains and ailments that even medicine has not found a cure for, without the need for surgery or medication, and that the product was sold and marketed with health claims in violation of relevant legislation.

It was determined that the TV channel airing the program acted in violation of the provision in Article 8 of Law No. 6112, which states, "Radio and television broadcast services shall not include the sale, marketing, and/or advertising of any product, including food supplements and similar supportive products, with health claims contrary to their relevant legislation..." as well as the provision in Article 19 of Law No. 1262, which states, "...Those who sell, market, or advertise any product by claiming it diagnoses and treats diseases, even if it is not a pharmaceutical preparation, shall be punished with imprisonment from one to five years..." The maximum-level sanction was applied to the broadcast in question.

Furthermore, the same broadcaster was issued a maximum-level sanction for promoting chat and dating lines and services, in violation of the provision: "Radio and television broadcast services shall not include programs where people are introduced and/or brought together for the purpose of finding friends... or the promotion of chat, dating, and matchmaking lines and services..."

RTÜK BLOCKS UNAUTHORIZED FUNDRAISING

Upon detecting that a channel was collecting donations on behalf of an association in its broadcasts without obtaining permission from the relevant authorities, RTÜK imposed a maximum-level sanction on the grounds that it violated the provision: "Broadcasts cannot contain elements that serve unfair interests and lead to unfair competition."

News Source: İHA