TURKEY: Hackers shut down government websites in a protest against a new Internet-filtering system

Record ID: 352988

  • Title: TURKEY: Hackers shut down government websites in a protest against a new Internet-filtering system
  • Date: 10th June 2011
  • Summary: COMPUTER SCREEN SHOWING TURKISH PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE WEBSITE
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Politics,Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVAQJHLQ2L06SI8V480H8UY9RVI
  • Story Text: Turkish government websites were hit by a cyber attack on Thursday (June 9), three days ahead of the country's parliamentary elections.
    Internet vigilante group Anonymous announced the assault on the anonnews.org website in a statement entitled "Operation Turkey".
    The group, which came to prominence last year after a series of high profile attacks, said the hack was part of a protest against Internet censorship by the Turkish government.
    Access to Turkey's telecoms authority website, identified as a main target in the protest against a planned new Internet filtering system, was blocked as planned at 6 p.m. (1500 GMT).
    According to Turkish television, Turkish Naval Forces was also targeted, with access blocked for about one hour.
    Tens of thousands protested in Istanbul in May against Internet censorship and plans for a new filtering system, due to be introduced on August 22, under which users must sign up for one of four filters -- domestic, family, children and standard.
    The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) says there will be no difference between the standard filter and the current system, but that the other filters would offer the option to restrict access for those who want it.
    Anonymous said the filtering system would make it possible to keep records of people's Internet activity.
    Turkey has previously banned access to various websites, including YouTube for a period of more than two years, under court orders imposed for infringing decency laws.
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