ANKARA, Turkey — New regulations aimed at filtering porn websites scheduled to go into affect this summer are being defended by the Turkish government despite protests from critics and business leaders.
According to reports, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the filtering is designed to keep Internet users from accessing porn and violent material, as well as sites that might be terror-related.
The regulations would require subscribers to sign up for one of four filtering programs.
But Umit Boyner, the head of Turkey's largest association of businessmen and industrialists, said the association is against the plan, sparking Arinc to accuse her of wanting to "liberalize" porn.
“This debate is beneath my level. Everyone should mind [their own] business. Turkey has very serious problems. The economy is splendid, it is growing phenomenally. But there are many problems. These are what politics must be concerned about, and not about the pornography of Umit Boyner. Such debasement of style does not suit a civilized society,” Boyner said at a recent retail conference in Barcelona.
