Internet subscribers using the new filtering system, which became available on Tuesday following a three-month test period carried out from Aug. 22 in several provinces, have reported problems in accessing certain websites, despite them not being considered harmful. Shopping websites, websites for jokes and even Facebook, one of the world's most popular social networking sites, users reported, had been blocked by their filtering systems.
According to the BTK, a “white list” was prepared listing 1,000 websites, most of which are not commonly known, that users would be able to access with the child user setting, one of three Internet filtering settings available. Using the other settings, family and domestic, it is possible to access more websites, but the BTK has not disclosed the list of blocked websites. Some have called on the BTK to release the list and clearly inform Internet users of why particular websites have been banned.
Meanwhile, Minister of Family and Social Policy Fatma Şahin expressed support for the new Internet filtering system in a speech following the 12th Meeting of the National Children's Forum on Wednesday in Ankara. Stating that she herself had begun using the filtering system, Şahin said that all parents should use the new system if they want to protect their children from the dangers of the Internet, adding that parents can use this system without any hesitation because it is reliable.
The Internet filtering system came under fire when it was first introduced six months ago with some fearing that it would bring censorship to the Internet, placing Turkey among the world's top Internet censoring countries. BTK President Tayfun Acarer, however, responded to these claims at a press conference on May 5 saying that Internet users in Turkey would not be obliged to choose one of the filtering options proposed in the new system, and that those who did not apply for the new system could go on as usual with their current Internet. He added that the filtering system had been created on the demands of many users, and that the BTK drafted a plan after negotiating with many Internet service providers.
Some families, however, have welcomed the filtering system, believing that it will prevent their children from accessing inappropriate websites that could harm them psychologically. According to the BTK, over 7,000 subscribers applied for the system in its first day and expect more to apply in the days to come.
According to data from the BTK, the number of Internet subscribers is close to 13 million in Turkey, of which 5 million use the Internet their with their cell phones, 450,000 through Cablenet and 6,940,000 through ADSL. The data also indicate TTNet is Turkey's biggest Internet service provider followed by Superonline, Doğan Telekom, Koç.net and Turknet.
