Demonstrations in Turkey against Internet controls

Thousands of Turks protested Sunday that both online and on the streets against the new Internet proposed by the Turkish Government controls.

The controls will require users to choose one of four filters before access to the Internet, according to media reports. The family, children, domestic or standard filters will result in different levels of filtering. The list of Web sites that is blocked by each filter is classified, said Reporters without borders.

The new rules of Information and Communication Technologies authority, which is commonly known as BTK, the Turkey entered into force on 22 August.

"This is a complete violation of both the European Convention on the law of man and of the constitution of the Turkey, Reporters without borders said earlier this month." Everyone must be guaranteed unlimited access to the Internet. ?

The Turkish Government earlier abandoned a plan in April to the content filter based on some keywords 138, said Reporters without borders.

On some Internet sites, users posted videos which are a March on Sunday instead of Taksim Square in Istanbul.

Users are suspicious that the BTK will filter web sites even if the standard option is selected. BTK could not be reached immediately for comment.

In a petition on Avaaz.org, an online forum to mobilize support for a cause, petitioners called BTK to withdraw from any regulations which include mandatory content filtering for Internet users in Turkey and reverse immediately the new "rules and procedures on the Safe use of the Internet".

Under the new rules, BTK would have total control over which internet sites are blocked by filters and may add or remove sites without the knowledge of users, giving it the power to ban thousands of Web sites without good reasonsaid the petition.

He questioned the BTK argue that they provide to families with an important service and he said that the filters are already available for download by anyone who wishes to install them.