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Turkish President approves controversial internet law
Under the bill, the Telecommunications Communications Presidency (TIB) can demand that internet providers block pages deemed insulting or considered an invasion of privacy
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has approved a new law tightening control of the Internet.
It will enable the authorities to block access to web pages within hours without a prior court order.
The controversial bill has sparked concerns over censorship which the government denies, saying it is making the internet more safe.
Turkey has been seeking membership of the European Union for decades, but the new law is one of several which have raised concern in Brussels, which fears it is shifting further away from EU norms.
Erdogan has vehemently denied accusations of online censorship, and said on Tuesday the proposed Internet curbs were aimed at countering "blackmail" and "threats".
"The Internet will not be censored, freedoms will not limited," Erdogan told his lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in parliament.
He said the number of internet subscribers in predominantly Muslim Turkey had swelled to 34 million from 20 000 since the AKP came to power in 2002.
Defenders of the law say the new restrictions protect individual rights while critics argue they amount to nothing more than a fresh assault on freedom of expression and an attempt to stifle dissent.
