Turkey's Top Court Rules YouTube Ban is Unconstitutional

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Turkey's top court ruled that a ban on YouTube is unconstitutional, paving the way to lift the two-month blockade, after the government cut off access to Google's video-sharing website for publishing leaked state secrets just days before critical March elections.

The Constitutional Court in Ankara sided 14-to-2 with individual appeals filed by Google's local attorney, opposition lawmakers and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, ruling that YouTube's blockade breached freedom of expression, according to a brief decision published on its website.

Judges next will write up their detailed ruling and send it to Turkey's TIB telecommunications watchdog and the Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ministry for implementation, thus lifting the ban.


Turkey's Top Court Rules YouTube Ban is Unconstitutional