April 01, 2014

Wyden Cosponsors Resolution Condemning Turkish Government’s Stifling of Free Speech

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement after cosponsoring a resolution condemning the  Government of Turkey for blocking access to social media sites like Twitter and YouTube, the effect of which could stifle freedom of speech and expression.

“No government should inhibit the ability of their citizens to speak freely or access information. Blocking Twitter and YouTube, among other forms of social media, will have a chilling effect on free speech and expression, ideals one would expect a modern democracy to embrace. This resolution makes clear that censorship and the suppression of speech are at odds with core democratic values and that the Turkish government should immediately reinstate social media access to its citizens.”