RTÜK lifts access bans on certain websites

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), during today's Supreme Council meeting, imposed fines on 4 television channels and 2 digital platforms due to broadcasting violations, while lifting the access bans on 3 websites.

RTÜK concluded that comments made by journalist Merdan Yanardağ regarding "Political Islamism" and "Islamist fascism" during the "4 Questions 4 Answers" program aired on Tele1 on June 9, which targeted the Islamic religion and were of a demeaning and derogatory nature, exceeded the limits of criticism. Due to the expressions used in the program, a maximum administrative fine was imposed on the grounds that it violated the provision in Article 8 of Law No. 6112, which states: "Broadcasts cannot be contrary to the principle of respect for human dignity and the privacy of private life; they cannot contain expressions that are demeaning, derogatory, or defamatory toward individuals or organizations beyond the limits of criticism."

FINE FOR HALK TV

Certain expressions used by Prof. Dr. Tolga Yarman, a guest on the "Uncensored" program aired on Halk TV, during his foreign policy assessments were found to be of a nature that could lead to sectarian discrimination and polarization in public opinion.

The broadcast was issued a 10-day suspension penalty on the grounds that it violated the provision in Article 8 of Law No. 6112: "Broadcasts cannot incite the public to hatred and hostility or create feelings of hatred in society by discriminating based on race, language, religion, gender, class, region, or sect."

In the same program, expressions used by CHP Istanbul Deputy Prof. Dr. Yunus Emre regarding a state official, such as "You are the people who ruined Turkey!" and "Which foreign powers are you a representative of?", were found to be defamatory, demeaning, and containing allegations that violate personal rights.

RTÜK decided that these words violated the provision in Article 8 of Law No. 6112, which states: "Broadcasts cannot be contrary to the principle of respect for human dignity and the privacy of private life; they cannot contain expressions that are demeaning, derogatory, or defamatory toward individuals or organizations beyond the limits of criticism." For this reason, it was decided to impose a maximum administrative fine on Halk TV for the second time for the same broadcast.

FINE FOR SÖZCÜ TV

RTÜK evaluated the statements of retired Admiral Türker Ertürk in the "Before After Night" program aired on June 20 and the "The Truth of the Matter" program aired on June 21 on SZC TV.

Ertürk's characterization of Turkey's foreign policy as "acting as a subcontractor for the Greater Middle East Project," "indirect support for Israel," and "paving the way for regime changes" was evaluated by RTÜK as expressions that accuse and discredit the state and its constitutional institutions. Furthermore, linking cross-border military operations to Israel's security was evaluated as criminalizing the state's security policies.

RTÜK stated that these broadcasts targeted both the government and the state's institutional foreign policy approach, and were of a nature that undermines public trust in the state.

The council decided to impose a maximum fine on SZC TV on the grounds that it violated Article 8 of Law No. 6112.

FINE FOR NETFLIX DUE TO THE FILM 'BARDA'

The intense scenes of violence and sexual assault in the film "Barda," which was broadcast on Netflix, were found by RTÜK to be at a level that would cause discomfort in the public.

The platform was issued a maximum administrative fine on the grounds that the content violated the principles in Article 8 of Law No. 6112, which state: "Broadcasts cannot encourage or normalize violence" and "Broadcasts cannot be contrary to the national and moral values of society, general morality, and the protection of the family."

FINE FOR SPOTIFY

Profane and slang expressions in some songs on Spotify were found by RTÜK to be contrary to the principles of society's national and moral values, general morality, the protection of the family, and the correct use of the Turkish language. For this reason, a maximum fine and a removal-from-catalog penalty were imposed on Spotify.

FINE FOR RUMELI TV

It was determined that the tele-shopping programs broadcast on Rumeli TV were conducted in violation of time limits and notification obligations to RTÜK. Evaluating that this situation led to unfair competition, RTÜK imposed a maximum administrative fine on Rumeli TV.

ACCESS BANS LIFTED FOR THREE WEBSITES

RTÜK conducted a new review regarding the domain names dw.com, dwturkce.com, and inspiredminds.de, which had been blocked due to not having a broadcasting license. In the final evaluation made by the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation, it was determined that the sites in question only contained audiovisual news content that could be considered within the scope of press activities, and that the previously objectionable content had been removed. Following this, the access bans on the websites in question were lifted.

News Source: İHA