Video Sharing Site Vimeo.com Banned

Another video sharing site was temporarily added to the list of censored websites in Turkey. The Telecommunication Communication Presidency (TİB) blocked access to the Vimeo.com website "in the scope of Protection Measures according to the investigation no. 2010/93921 dated 28 September 2010 by the Ankara Public Chief Prosecution". However, the ban was lifted after a few days.

Vimeo: Sorry, but we cannot do anything about it...

In a statement issued in a forum of the site, Vimeo official Matt Schwarz said, "We were sorry to hear about the decision but there is not much we can do about it. There are no sanctions imposed on Vimeo with the decision. We apologize to our users in this region for the inconvenience. It seems as if we cannot do anything about it right now".

Reason for the access ban in Turkey are alleged "obscene" broadcasts published on the site. the Internet Publications Association (IYAD) speculated that a deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP) applied for the access ban but the CHP denied the accusation.

More than 7,000 internet sites are currently blocked in Turkey. Access to the global video sharing YouTube.com has been banned since 5 May 2008.

President Abdullah Gül said in a recent speech given in the USA that there was no internet censorship in Turkey. (EÇ/EÖ/VK)