Turkish Internet filtering system ready to use: watchdog

The head of Turkey's Internet watchdog, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), has said if Internet users want, they will be able to access a "safe Internet" at no cost, with what has thus far been a controversial Internet filtering system, the Anatolia news agency said on Thursday.

Tayfun Acarer, the head of the BTK, evaluated the Internet filtering system during a three-month test period that will end on Tuesday, Nov. 22. According to a regulation that became effective on July 28, 2010 concerning Internet filters, Acarer said Internet users will be able to access a safer Internet at no extra cost with the new filtering system.

Acarer had numerous reasons why people in Turkey were not choosing to have an Internet filtering system but said the current bureaucratic system is the greatest obstacle. "There are currently 11.5 million active Internet users in Turkey. Taking into account the structure of families in Turkey, there are approximately 40 million people who use the Internet. Turkey ranks third in Europe in the amount of time spent on the Internet, so why are Internet users in Turkey not opting for a safer Internet?" he asked. Some 22,000 Internet users in Turkey have already tried and used the BTK Internet filtering system during its three-month test period.

Turkey receives more complaints regarding content on Internet sites than any other country in Europe. "We receive about 200,000 complaints about Internet sites a year. In European countries with a comparable population, the number of complaints received does not exceed 30,000 to 40,000. In other words, some of our users have a serious issue with some of the content we allow here on the Internet. These people are interested in this regulation because they want a safer Internet," he said.

With the regulation, Acarer said users will be able to enjoy a safer Internet at no cost, filling out an application or resorting to a drop in speed or access. He further explained the number of profile options that will be available for Internet users. "You will only need to submit your request on the Internet. You will be given a username and password and then you will be able to use the new filtering system. If you want, you will also be able to select an option for children. You can also select a family profile, in which you will be able to select from many sub-profiles. Or, if you say you wish to exit all filtering profiles, you will also be able to do so," he explained.

The BTK came under fire in May for a new regulation titled "Procedures and Principles Regarding the Safe Use of the Internet," which planned to provide filtering options to Turkey's Internet users. The original regulation, which would have made choosing a filtering option mandatory, was supposed to be implemented in August, but the BTK decided to postpone its introduction until November following a number of complaints.


/World Bulletin/