YouTube news programmers to obtain license from Turkish media watchdog

Ebubekir Şahin, the head of Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), announced that new regulations would be introduced for street interviews and YouTube, requiring those who produce news and programs on the platform to obtain a license.

Monday September 02 2024 01:16 pm

Duvar English

Ebubekir Şahin, the head of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), has announced that new regulations would be introduced regarding YouTube and street interviews in an interview with journalist Armağan Çağlayan on Ekol TV.

“Street interviews will be regulated. They will have to be careful. They will not be able to slander or give false information. Those who make news and programmes on YouTube will also have to obtain a license from RTÜK,” Şahin stated.

Şahin also noted that they have received complaints about daytime TV programmes and that they would introduce a new regulation on this issue as well.

“We have the authority to control all broadcasts. There is a perception that the state is in a position of impotence. Whoever says those things will be detained and subjected to an investigation,” Şahin underscored.

A Turkish court on Aug. 30 released Dilruba Kayserilioğlu after 18 days in prison. She had been arrested for “insulting the President” and “inciting public hatred and enmity” due to her remarks during a street interview.

Her arrest sparked significant controversy regarding freedom of speech, media rights, and the government's increasing control over alternative media channels.

Şahin also stated that they would bring new regulations on YouTube, emphasizing “they would not ban YouTube.” He added, “We have not intervened in any content on YouTube until today. All broadcasts, except personal ones, are under RTÜK supervision.”

The head of the media watchdog stated that licenses for YouTubers creating news content would be granted “for a small fee” and would be valid for 10 years.

“Our negotiations with YouTube are ongoing. They will evaluate our proposal, we are waiting for a response,” he said.

Turkish government banned access to social media platform Instagram in early August for nearly one week and has been since increasing its pressure on alternative media platforms.

Between 2008 and 2010, YouTube was banned in Turkey due to "videos involving insults against Atatürk." In later years, the video sharing platform was banned in several instances as well.