Turkish authorities are mulling new measures to protect children from dangerous online content after the country was shaken last week by two separate school shootings.
According to local media reports, Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority is seeking to limit children’s access to games and other online material that could be seen as promoting violence or other harmful behaviour.
The reports come in the wake of two separate school shootings in south-eastern Türkiye that left nine people dead and more than two dozen injured, including both teachers and students.
Investigations have since revealed that the two perpetrators - a 14-year-old student and a 19-year-old former student - had both been active players of violent games online, raising concerns about the effect of such content on young users.
In an effort to restrict access to potentially harmful content, authorities are reportedly considering a ban on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by minors.
According to officials, VPN services operating in Türkiye may be made subject to licensing requirements, thereby preventing minors from accessing content that would otherwise be blocked.
Authorities are also considering the introduction of a mobile phone subscription category specifically designed for users under 18, which would feature enhanced content-filtering options.
In a related development, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into a popular Turkish-language YouTube channel amid concerns that its content may promote violence.
Officials allege that some of the material featured on the channel could be seen as normalising harmful or anti-social behaviour, particularly among children.
With more than 7.5 million subscribers, the channel - called “Minecraft Parodileri” - has since been temporarily blocked in Türkiye in line with a court order.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office is now in the process of reviewing other popular social media channels that may also be seen as encouraging violence.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, S...
The 2026 Paris Motor Show has opened with a clear message: competition is intensifying as carmakers race to embrace electric vehicles, cuttin...
Energy security dominated the opening day of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, as Saudi Arabia warned of a serious response to recent attacks...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
Energy security dominated the opening day of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, as Saudi Arabia warned of a serious response to recent attacks and industry leaders confronted growing threats to global oil and gas supplies.
Iran has offered to help ease escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis, warning that further conflict would benefit only Israel. The offer followed a phone call between the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers.
A delegation of around 40 international travellers from 13 countries has concluded a three-day tour of Azerbaijan’s Garabagh and East Zangezur regions, exploring historic landmarks, reconstruction projects and an active mine clearance site.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Russia's TASS news agency is reporting that Russia's defence and digital development ministries are in talks about how to protect data centres, after several Yandex centres were targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment