Turkey strikes again at major streaming platforms for content considered incompatible with the country’s “national and moral values”. The state authority overseeing radio and television, Rtuk, has imposed administrative sanctions on Netflix, Disney+, Hbo Max, and Prime Video, contesting the presence in their catalogs of films, documentaries, and series that, according to the body, promote pornography, obscenity, and homosexual relationships.
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But it’s not just a matter of fines. Rtuk has also asked the platforms to remove some of the content targeted by the authority. Among the cited titles are the documentary “Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story”, “Heartstopper: Forever”, and the series “A Teacher”.
The authority claims that some programs contain sexual scenes considered contrary to “human nature and universal moral standards”. And it contests the portrayal of same-sex relationships, accusing some productions of contributing to legitimizing and promoting them.
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This is precisely one of the central aspects of the measure. According to Rtuk, showing LGBTQ+ relationships in a positive light and as a normal component of society would be incompatible with “the Turkish family structure, moral values, and the general conception of ethics”. The contested content is therefore also considered contrary to “general morality” and the principle of family protection.
The authority had already taken similar measures against paid streaming platforms, contesting the distribution of productions deemed obscene or incompatible with the family and moral values claimed by high Turkish officials. The new intervention only confirms the control exercised over international streaming services available in the country.
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