Turkey shuts down YouTube over security alert

Turkey’s telecoms authority has shut down YouTube. Regulators say an anonymous account posted what it presented as a leaked recording of a discussion between the country’s intelligence chief and military leaders about possible operations in Syria. It comes a week after Turkey tried to block access to microblogging site Twitter. “I have been a Facebook and a Youtubeuser for years and all of a sudden, this ban comes as a shock. I am uneasy over these developments and my biggest concern is what will happen if this government wins the elections?” said internet user Robin Cetin. “I wonder how far will they go to curb our freedom. First Twitter, now Youtube. What is next? Facebook? How far will they go and when will this end?” said Istanbul resident Demet Toprak. The government has indicated that it may block access to other social media platforms as well if users publish recordings or documents which threaten national security.