RTÜK President Şahin announces: 'Censorship' on the way for YouTube and street interviews

RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin was a guest on the "Sorgusuz Sualsiz" program hosted by Armağan Çağlayan on Ekol TV. Discussing regulations regarding YouTube and street interviews, Ebubekir Şahin explained the work being done. 

Highlights from Şahin's statements are as follows:

DAYTIME PROGRAMMING

"There are many complaints regarding daytime programming. There are complaints not only from citizens but also from the opposition, the government, and NGOs. However, we will take a series of measures. Beyond the laws, there will also be principles that must be followed.

'REGULATION' COMING FOR STREET INTERVIEWS

We have the authority to supervise all broadcasts. An impression is being created as if the state is in a state of helplessness. We have warned them about these interviews via BTK or YouTube. We saw that, far from getting their act together, they started being given after news programs that broadcast globally. Regulation will be brought to street interviews. It is as if action was taken after my statement. No, whoever says those things will be detained and undergo an investigation. We have completed our work. We will apply the same rules here as in a normal interview. They will have to be careful. They will not be able to slander, and they will not be able to provide false information or information whose accuracy is debatable.

LICENSE REQUIREMENT FOR YOUTUBE BROADCASTERS

We are also conducting a study regarding YouTube. But we are not trying to shut it down, we are trying to regulate it. We have not interfered with any content on YouTube to date. All broadcasts, except for personal ones, are under RTÜK supervision. New digital channels must also comply with Turkish laws. They have to obtain a license. Those who produce news or programs on YouTube will have to obtain a license from RTÜK. This will be provided for a nominal fee. The license period is 10 years. A regular payment is made every year. Our negotiations with YouTube are ongoing. They will evaluate our proposal, we are waiting for news. A license can be obtained even before this law is passed.

WILL A FEE BE CHARGED FROM YOUTUBE?

1.5 percent of the total broadcasting revenue generated from broadcasting on YouTube or other digital media is collected. The TV and radio application is separate. We have very good regulations in Turkey that guarantee the broadcaster. We are one of the best in the world.

SOCIAL MEDIA BANS

The banning of Instagram, Roblox, etc., is under the supervision of BTK. It is not our area. But in my personal opinion, if I were in their position, I would have made the same decision. I have been the president of RTÜK for 6 years, but we have only made 1 license cancellation decision. I receive many threats and insults. I have been threatened thousands of times a day, my family has been threatened, I have filed lawsuits against them, they are young children, I have dropped most of them. They even insulted me regarding Instagram, saying 'you shut it down.' On one hand, platforms that easily publish these are sensitive when it comes to themselves. They still haven't opened a representative office here. They are not in the conditions required by law, they only have headquarters. As for the game, it had reached a point that would put children in all kinds of danger. I also do not find it right to download another application for Instagram. Because you become open to everything. It is extremely dangerous.

RTÜK MEMBERSHIP

Political parties elect RTÜK members. I do not want this system to change. Because I know the beauty of this system. If there were RTÜK members not elected by politicians, there would be some hesitation about how much the rules would be applied and to what extent the law would be implemented. I am in favor of a group that includes professionals. But if it consisted entirely of them, I would have my own hesitations regarding the implementation of laws and rules. We are all very good in a human sense as members. There are members from different parties, but sometimes the work can lead to discussion.

News Source: 12punto