Censorship is clearly on the rise in Turkey. According to CNN, less than a week after Twitter was banned in the country by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan video social media site Youtube has now been blocked. At this point the 10 million Turkish citizens who use the social media platforms cannot access Youtube or Twitter.
According to reuters.com the block came about in response to a leak of a recording of "top security officials" speaking about possible military action in Syria. This post was considered a declaration of war by Recep Erdogan's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu. This video was posted anonymously and showed photos of the officials who were involved in the recording but it is said that this is another ploy in the apparent struggle of power Prime Minister Erdogan is facing against his rivals. In past weeks it was said on social media that Erdogan's political enemies do not want him to win upcoming elections and are working to unseat him. While campaigning the prime minister said that the posting of such confidential audio "is villainous".
Over the past weeks several anonymous audio clips that are said to closely connect to Prime Minister Erdogan and corruption have been posted on social media sites. Questions of whether or not Erdogan wants to protect the national security of Turkey or his position in the government have been constantly arising. The blockage of the social sites is censorship and unfair to the people of Turkey. Though Prime Minister Erdogan would like to say it is helping the nation overall he and those with something to hide are truly the only ones being protected. A more clear answer of whether or not he is protecting himself or Turkey on a whole will come forth after the today's Turkish elections.