Turkey Arrests Journalists For Using Encryption

An anonymous reader sends news that three employees of Vice News were arrested in Turkey because one of them used an encryption system on his personal computer. That particular type of encryption has been used by the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State, so the men were charged with "engaging in terrorist activity." The head of a local lawyers association said, "I find it ridiculous that they were taken into custody. I don't believe there is any accuracy to what they are charged for. To me, it seems like an attempt by the government to get international journalists away from the area of conflict." The Turkish government denied these claims: "This is an unpleasant incident, but the judiciary is moving forward with the investigation independently and, contrary to claims, the government has no role in the proceedings."

Comments

Re:No government role?

[KGIII]

I admit that a part of me wants to say, "Well, it's Vice and nothing of value was lost." I almost agree with that. Almost... I just can't bring myself to because of that whole freedom of the press thing which they don't seem to have but I feel should be a freedom for everyone.

On one hand, it's Vice... They are almost certainly there to stir up trouble or to spin something to manufacture outrage or for ego...

On the other hand, you know, freedom. I don't really like them (sometimes they're amusing for the wrong reasons) but, yeah, they should have that same freedom too and so should everyone.

So, I guess, I don't really like Vice much but I do admire their courage. Hopefully this gets better soon - before getting much worse. I really much prefer the freedom of the press more than my dislike for Vice and my dislike for them should have nothing to do with it. I do support the idea behind sovereignty but there really should be some basic freedoms that everyone is entitled to.

And no, I'm not sure what the solution it is but I'm pretty sure it's not the United States bombing them all the way to Freedom and Harmony. (Both towns in the State of Maine, by the way. Oddly, both have marijuana celebration festivals but that's an aside and yes - I think I've been to way too many of them.)

Sorry for the inarticulate rant but, well, even Vice deserves freedom. Encryption should be a right and I could easily make a decent argument about it being necessary to ensure the First Amendment - in my country. My country's laws do not, of course, apply to Turkeys. Err... Turkish...

Wait... They have raw opium in Turkey, right? Hmm... Oh yeah, about that incoherent rant thing... Whilst I did not go to a festival I may have done some celebration of my own.