The original version of the agency's directive was referred to the Council of State by the human rights website Bianet.org, which questioned its legality.
(RSF/IFEX) – 9 August 2011 – The Information Technologies Board (BTK) has modified its proposed Internet filtering system and postponed its introduction, in order to allow for further testing and submit the new version to 10 days of public consultation.
The BTK announced on its website on 4 August that it is postponing implementation of its directive on “Procedures and Principles regarding Safe Internet Use” from 22 August to 22 November.
Under the modified system, Turkish Internet users will no longer be obliged to install the BTK filtering software on their computers and the number of alternative versions of the software has been reduced from four to two (“family” and “child”).
The original version of the BTK directive was referred to the Council of State by the Turkish human rights website Bianet.org, which questioned its legality.
Reporters Without Borders takes note of the BTK’s concessions but still thinks the directive should be abandoned altogether, as thousands of demonstrators demanded on 15 May in response to the BTK’s original version.
