Turkey fines Netflix, HBO and Disney+ for promoting homosexuality
The Radio and Television Authority is also calling for the removal of certain titles from the catalogues, including ‘Heartstopper: Forever’ and ‘A Teacher’
Turkey has once again taken action against the major streaming platforms over content deemed incompatible with the country’s ‘national and moral values’. The state authority responsible for regulating radio and television, RTÜK, has imposed administrative sanctions on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Prime Video, objecting to the presence in their catalogues of films, documentaries and series which, according to the body, promote pornography, obscenity and same-sex relationships.
But it is not just a matter of fines. The RTUK has in fact also asked the platforms to remove some of the content that has come under the authority’s scrutiny. Among the titles mentioned are the documentary ‘Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story’, ‘Heartstopper: Forever’ and the series ‘A Teacher’.
The authority claims that certain programmes contain scenes of sexual intercourse deemed to be contrary to ‘human nature and universal moral standards’. It also challenges the depiction of same-sex relationships, accusing certain productions of helping to legitimise and promote them.
This is precisely one of the key aspects of the measure. According to the RTUK, portraying LGBTQ+ relationships in a positive light and as a normal part of society would be incompatible with ‘the Turkish family structure, moral values and the general conception of ethics”. The contested content is therefore also considered to be contrary to ‘general morality’ and the principle of family protection.
The authority had already taken similar measures against paid streaming platforms, objecting to the distribution of content deemed obscene or incompatible with the family and moral values championed by senior Turkish officials. This latest move merely confirms the control also exercised over international streaming services available in the country.
