Turkey's media watchdog warns Spotify to 'regulate content' in line with broadcasting law

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Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has said that Spotify has to “regulate its content” in line with Law 6112 on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises, as it confirmed that a license was granted to the online music stream giant.

“With this granted license, this platform has to regulate its content in line with our laws," RTÜK president Ebubekir Şahin told pro-government newspaper Sabah on May 7.

“Now it [Spotify] will be able to operate in our country for a period of 10 years in a legal way. Spotify has to now comply with the broadcasting principles indicated explicitly in the law numbered 6112. If they do broadcasting outside this, we will do what is necessary as the RTÜK,” Şahin said.

In line with Law 6112, RTÜK licenses television channels, radio stations, and video-on-demand content in addition to monitoring their content.

In October, Spotify initiated an application to obtain an operating license in Turkey in line with the country's media watchdog's orders.

The application came after RTÜK released a statement on Oct. 12, 2020, giving Spotify 72 hours to make the application, saying it will apply for an access ban if they don't do so.

Digital platforms are under the authority of RTÜK as part of a regulation that passed on Aug. 1, 2019. Broadcasting corporations can't operate without getting licenses from RTÜK as part of the amendment.

Streaming platforms, such as Netflix, BluTV and Puhutv are also under the watchdog's authority.

As part of the regulations, the companies are forced to remove the content found inappropriate by RTÜK.

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