Two weeks ago, the Turkish government proposed a bill to allow the Turkish media authority the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) to regulate all content posted online to prevent broadcasts that “jeopardize national security” and “destroy moral values.”
Meaning: The scale of censorship will broaden to include online platforms such as YouTube and Netflix in the very near future. The RTÜK already monitors Turkish media. Couples making love or kissing are considered obscene and “against moral values” so even Oscar-winning movies are “simplified” and scenes cut. All kinds of alcohol and smoking scenes are blurred. (I remember watching a documentary about Einstein a couple of years ago and even his pipe was blurred. Yes, his pipe.)
Interestingly, love scenes or kissing are considered obscene but guns and violence are considered safe. Or so the RTÜK must think, since nobody worries about featuring guns or violent scenes in productions but kissing causes us to stop and shake our heads. Lately, a couple kissed in a series called “Çukur,” which airs on Show TV, and the RTÜK punished this kiss with a 260,000 Turkish Lira fine (equivalent to $70,000).
Another senseless ban is on brands. If a Turkish television star happens to say “I’m wearing Versace today” in a ceremony broadcasted live on television, the broadcaster would receive a hefty fine. Travel and gourmet shows were most affected by the ban. How to talk about a famous Istanbul restaurant without mentioning its name? Shows about food, travel and culture began to resemble a student workbook, an extension of “fill the blanks.” All brands are blurred onscreen.
Many people after good content have turned online. This is why platforms such as Netflix, Turkish BluTV or Puhu represent a breath of fresh air not only for producers, but also for viewers. Then there is the rise of YouTube. Heretofore these outlets were the ultimate places of freedom for Turkish people but now they face censorship as conventional television.
That is just one part of the problem. The scale of the censorship is far worse when it comes to politics. Any news about a political trial or coverage of a journalist such as Deniz Yücel, who was imprisoned for more than a year without being charged, could easily be considered as “terrorist propaganda” by government authorities, so the mass media has begun to exercise serious caution in covering the trials of journalists and politicians. A journalist may write the truth, but in our kind of democracy, nobody can promise what happens afterwards.
Maybe you face jail time or are accused of being a traitor. Maybe a spy. Or a terrorist? Who knows?
This depends on how the politicians feel on a given day. Therefore, free media (or relatively free, since almost everyone who works for the media has their own built-in censorship mechanism) only exists online. Dissident journalists who were expelled from conventional media outlets can only raise their voices through online platforms. The RTÜK’s domination over online platforms means not only dulling down Netflix or our favorite YouTube channels but also silencing dissident voices.
The day the bill proposal was discussed, Turkey’s Transport, Maritime and Communication Minister said: “Is there censorship in Turkey? Any show can be aired!” His comments remind me of a statement from Hannah Arendt: “No one has ever doubted that truth and politics are on rather bad terms with each other.”
This is simply a matter of “rewriting contemporary history under the eyes of those who witnessed it.”
freedom of speech, freedom of expression, threat,
FAQs
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments, private institutions, and other controlling bodies.
Why is Google censoring my searches? ›
In the United States, Google commonly filters search results to comply with Digital Millennium Copyright Act-related legal complaints.
How is censorship shown in Fahrenheit 451? ›
Ray Bradbury uses it as part of his novel Fahrenheit 451. In the novel, censorship appears in the form of banned books and highly restricted information, and in the event that books are discovered, they are promptly burned and their owners arrested.
Is censorship good or bad? ›
It can strengthen national security by keeping information away from enemies. Some people believe it can make a society more unified or moral. Others support it because it can benefit certain groups in a country, such as the main political party or the main religion (although this is often at the expense of others).
Is censorship illegal? ›
The right to speak and the right to publish under the First Amendment has been interpreted widely to protect individuals and society from government attempts to suppress ideas and information, and to forbid government censorship of books, magazines, and newspapers as well as art, film, music and materials on the ...
Is Fahrenheit 451 still banned? ›
The last occurrence was in 2006, a parents of one of the students in Montgomery, Texas, demanded that the administration allow her daughter to read another book because they found it offensive. In all cases, the book has been restored to accepted status.
Is Fahrenheit 451 a warning? ›
In a world where firemen burn rather than tame fire, Ray Bradbury uses Fahrenheit 451 to warn society about the dangers of censorship and making poor lifestyle choices, especially with the use of technology.
What is a quote in Fahrenheit 451 about censorship? ›
If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Beatty gives Montag a final reason to explain why society is better off without books. The government and the firemen use censorship to control their citizens.
Why is Google banned in China? ›
The decision to impose the ban was made as a result of Google's unwillingness to completely abide by China's censorship regulations, which was regarded as a challenge to China's claim to digital sovereignty. The restriction was seen by the Chinese government as an attempt to reclaim control over the digital sphere.
How to hide swear words? ›
The string of symbols used to replace or obscure written curse words is called grawlix. Some commonly used grawlix symbols include ampersands (“&”), at signs (“@”), exclamation marks (“!”), dollar signs (“$”), and hash symbols (“#”). It's also common to replace some letters in an offensive word with asterisks (“*”).
Advanced Profanity Filter helps to clean up bad language on the websites you and your family visit. Advanced Profanity Filter helps to clean up bad language on the websites you and your family visit. Whether you choose to censor, substitute, or hide offensive words, APF is here to improve your browsing experience.
What is your definition of censorship? ›
censorship, the changing or the suppression or prohibition of speech or writing that is deemed subversive of the common good. It occurs in all manifestations of authority to some degree, but in modern times it has been of special importance in its relation to government and the rule of law.
How do you respond to censorship? ›
Write something you'd be proud to stand by and defend publicly — because that is what you may be called upon to do. Before publishing a story that you know might provoke a censor's pen, take the time to make it “censor-resistant”: carefully check all facts, confirm quotes, make sure you have talked to all sides.
What is censorship according to Rushdie answer? ›
According to him, “CENSORSHIP IS THE THING THAT STOPS YOU FROM DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, AND WHAT WRITERS WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS WHAT THEY DO, NOT WHAT STOPS THEM FROM DOING IT.” So it is anti-creation, negative energy and so on. Here he quotes the description of death given by Tom Stoppard, 'absence of presence'.
