The TFF has imposed a ban on access to blogspot.com.

Access to Google's free blogging platform Blogger's domain blogspot.com has been restricted. It has been learned that the access restriction decision was made by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). Access to Google's blogging service Blogger has been blocked.

THE DECISION WAS MADE BY TFF

It was stated that the access restriction decision was made by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). Users trying to access the site encountered the warning: "This website (blogspot.com) has been blocked based on the following decision. Turkish Football Federation; decision number 047-05 D. İş dated 22.10.2024."

It has been learned that the TFF made the access restriction decision within the scope of "fighting against piracy." With the Law No. 7346 published in the Official Gazette on December 25, 2021, a new article was added to the Law No. 5894 on the Establishment and Duties of the Turkish Football Federation. This article granted the TFF Board of Directors the authority to block access if it is determined that broadcasts related to football matches are used unlawfully on the internet.

'RESTRICTION ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION'

Prof. Dr. Yaman Akdeniz, a faculty member at Istanbul Bilgi University Law Faculty, reacted to the TFF's access restriction on blogspot.com via his X account. Prof. Dr. Akdeniz stated in his social media posts: "We are starting with the access restriction and censorship of the world-famous Blogger platform owned by Google by the Turkish Football Federation. We have previously expressed how dangerous and arbitrary it is to grant the TFF the authority to block access without requiring judicial approval. The arbitrary use of this authority is as problematic as having the authority itself. There is no requirement for judicial approval in the legislation for the decisions of the Turkish Football Federation, and therefore the decisions are not published, and the process progresses in a completely secret manner, far from oversight, restricting the freedom to seek rights. While on paper the Federation is said to be fighting against 'piracy,' no institution can act with an authority that has no counterpart in the Constitution and suddenly censor a platform like Blogger, which has millions of users, without requiring judicial/court approval. The Turkish Football Federation must immediately cease its censorship of the Blogger platform. Restricting the freedom of expression of all users who do not engage in any unlawful use as a result of its arbitrary decision cannot be acceptable."