The Turkish government has prepared a new bill that seeks to broaden state control over the Internet.
Under the bill, which was presented to the parliament on Friday, the prime minister of the country and other cabinet ministers would be able to shut down websites for reasons including “national security” without a court order, Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News reported on Sunday.
The last-minute amendments to the bill also stipulate that maintaining public order and ensuring security for life and property are also other possible reasons for shutting down a website.
According to the daily, Turkish officials in the first step should try to block the specific content on a website. However, if such a move was technically impossible, the prime minister and the ministers could order a blanket ban on the website, which would then be applied by the Telecommunications Directorate.
If passed, the bill would give authorities in Turkey an unprecedented power to control the Internet. It is scheduled to be debated in the parliament next week.