Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association praised a bipartisan resolution introduced by House members yesterday asking Turkey to stop blocking its citizens’ access to social media sites like Twitter and YouTube.
The measure by Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif., ranking member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and three key members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Reps. Tom Marino, R-Penn., Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., and Bill Keating, D-Mass, is aimed at showing a united stand for Internet freedom in Turkey and around the world.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association issued a statement earlier condemning Turkey’s decision to block access to social media sites. The following can be attributed to President & CEO Ed Black:
“We have been following this issue closely and were encouraged when Turkish courts ordered the government to reverse the ban on Twitter, and are watching to see that the government does the right thing. Internet censorship clearly violates human rights and free speech, but we believe government blocking of Internet sites like this could also interfere with Turkey’s obligations in international trade agreements. We commend Congresswoman Eshoo and her colleagues for taking a strong stand for the citizens of Turkey and open access to the Internet. “