Amendment No. 30 | Doc. 14078 | 22 June 2016
The functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey
In the draft resolution, replace paragraph 23 with the following paragraph:
"The Assembly remains concerned about the large number of websites blocked and Twitter takedown requests. Blocking websites appears to be a highly disproportionate measure which impedes the public's right to have access to, and to be provided with, information on the Internet, and negatively impacts media pluralism and free expression. The Assembly notes that the PKK and DAESH make use of the Internet for the purpose of promoting their objectives and terrorist activities. However, it urges Turkey to upgrade its legal framework in line with the European Convention on Human Rights, in particular to review Act No. 5651 on the Internet, in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission (to be adopted in June 2016) on the regulation of publications on the Internet and combatting crimes committed by means of such publications."
Explanatory note
This paragraph gives the impression of violation of rights to access to information. However 99.5 % of blockings are on grounds of child sexual abuse, extreme pornography, prostitution and gambling. Thus, none of them is about freedom of expression or right to have access to information.