[JURIST] The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) [advocacy website] on Friday praised a ruling by Turkey’s Constitutional Court [press release] that decreases the power of the country’s telecommunications authority TIB [official website] to block websites and monitor internet users. The Constitutional Court of Turkey [official website] on Thursday ruled that TIB’s authority to close websites without a court decision on the grounds on protecting national security was unconstitutional. The court also ruled against TIB’s authority to store internet data for up to two years. TIB was granted these powers when parliament passed amendments [JURIST report] to the Internet Law on September 10. “This ruling constitutes an important and long-awaited step forward for free expression on the internet in Turkey,” said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic. “I recognize that the protection of national security is the prerogative of governments but the authorities must also ensure that these measures do not curb the fundamental right of free expression.”

Internet freedom [JURIST backgrounder] remains a controversial issue around the world. Last year a Canadian human rights group unveiled research [JURIST report] indicating that a number of nations are using American-made Internet surveillance technology which could be used to censor content and track their citizens. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) [official website] in July 2012 passed its first-ever resolution to protect the free speech [JURIST report] of individuals online. The resolution was approved by all 47 members of the council, including China and Cuba, which have been criticized for limiting Internet freedom. Also in 2012 China adopted stricter rules [JURIST report] on both Internet providers and users. Last November Russia passed a law [JURIST report] giving the nation the authority to completely block access to certain websites. Last July the UNHRC passed a resolution [JURIST report] intended to protect Internet speech.