Turkcell Superonline: Difference between revisions
CryptCyprus (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
CryptCyprus (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
User freedom faces substantial restrictions as Turkey implements comprehensive internet censorship policies that affect all ISPs including Superonline, with the government's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) collecting user data hourly including location data, browsing history, and messaging communications.<ref> | User freedom faces substantial restrictions as Turkey implements comprehensive internet censorship policies that affect all ISPs including Superonline, with the government's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) collecting user data hourly including location data, browsing history, and messaging communications.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> According to Freedom House's comprehensive assessment, Turkey's internet status remains classified as "Not Free" with extensive government control over digital communications and widespread social media blocking affecting service providers like Superonline.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey |title=Turkey Overview |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=31 March 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | ||
The Freedom House reports document systematic erosion of press freedom affecting all telecommunications infrastructure, noting that Turkey ranked as the world's fourth-largest jailer of journalists in 2022 with 40 journalists imprisoned, creating an environment where ISPs like Superonline operate under stringent content filtering requirements.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-world/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom in the World 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=4 November 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> The deterioration of judicial independence since 2016 has further compromised the legal framework governing internet service providers, with thousands of loyalist judges appointed who align with government interests in telecommunications regulation and censorship enforcement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | |||
User privacy concerns are exacerbated by Superonline's extensive data collection practices, processing personally identifiable information, contact data, subscription details, network traffic, location data, payment information, and usage patterns, operating within Turkey's restrictive legal framework that has been documented by Freedom House as increasingly authoritarian.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-world/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom in the World 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=4 November 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> Regarding market control, Superonline operates as the largest alternative ISP with approximately 15% of the broadband market share in 2021, positioning itself as the leading challenger to dominant player Türk Telekom which holds 65.3% market share.<ref>[https://www.btk.gov.tr/uploads/pages/pazar-verileri/ceyrek-raporu-2021-4-ceyrek-22-03-21-kurum-disi.pdf BTK Market Share Statistics 2021 Q4]</ref> | |||
The telecommunications environment is further complicated by Turkey's implementation of constitutional restrictions on freedom of expression online, despite theoretical protections under Article 26 of the constitution, which allows the government to limit or suspend basic freedoms during states of emergency as documented in the 2023 earthquake response.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | |||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
Line 32: | Line 38: | ||
Superonline has been criticized for injecting various advertisements into its customers' web connections while they browse the internet, thereby forcing them to watch the advertisements. Requests for clarification to the company went unanswered. This incident was described as the first evidence of traffic monitoring and manipulation through deep packet inspection in Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gözütok|first1=Ahmet|title=Turkcell Superonline kullanıcılarını reklam izlemeye mi zorluyor?|url=https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|website=donanimhaber.com|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141204/https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Yagiz|title=İddia: Superonline kullanıcılarına izinsiz reklam gösteriyor.|url=https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|website=medium.com|date=25 September 2016|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141143/https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> This problem has since been fixed and the development of HTTPS technology has made it very difficult for this to happen again.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xZPAw1uCdLqDz8F_Vz57DRvCNJTcCnPgtG7P-yeloUc/edit?usp=sharing Web Hacking Incident Database]</ref> | Superonline has been criticized for injecting various advertisements into its customers' web connections while they browse the internet, thereby forcing them to watch the advertisements. Requests for clarification to the company went unanswered. This incident was described as the first evidence of traffic monitoring and manipulation through deep packet inspection in Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gözütok|first1=Ahmet|title=Turkcell Superonline kullanıcılarını reklam izlemeye mi zorluyor?|url=https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|website=donanimhaber.com|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141204/https://www.donanimhaber.com/operatorler--kurumsal-haberler/haberleri/Turkcell-Superonline-kullanicilarini-reklam-izlemeye-mi-zorluyor.htm|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Yagiz|title=İddia: Superonline kullanıcılarına izinsiz reklam gösteriyor.|url=https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|website=medium.com|date=25 September 2016|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619141143/https://medium.com/@anonrig/i%CC%87ddia-superonline-kullan%C4%B1c%C4%B1lar%C4%B1na-izinsiz-reklam-g%C3%B6steriyor-ba555360424|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> This problem has since been fixed and the development of HTTPS technology has made it very difficult for this to happen again.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xZPAw1uCdLqDz8F_Vz57DRvCNJTcCnPgtG7P-yeloUc/edit?usp=sharing Web Hacking Incident Database]</ref> | ||
===Applying Censorship | ===Applying Censorship during Earthquake Incident (2023)=== | ||
On February 6, 2023, the company was criticized for internet outages at critical moments during the massive earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. Immediately after the earthquake disaster, the collapse of the internet infrastructure, which was critical for search and rescue operations and coordination, left both citizens and government agencies in a difficult situation. In the aftermath, Superonline was severely criticized for its lack of infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness. | |||
The incident occurred within the context of Turkey's three-month state of emergency enacted in 11 provinces following the February 2023 earthquakes, which gave the president power to pass laws without parliamentary approval and allowed the government to limit or suspend basic freedoms including telecommunications access.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> There has also been controversy over the company's compliance with social media bans in Turkey during the earthquake, implemented under emergency powers that allowed authorities to take measures to prevent the circulation of information deemed false.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> The biggest criticism has been the restriction of communication opportunities for people trapped under the remains of the earthquake and putting lives at risk. Internet freedom advocates have criticized Superonline's quick implementation of these bans, especially when access restrictions are imposed on social media platforms which helped find the trapped people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2024 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2024 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=2024 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | |||
The earthquake response highlighted broader patterns documented by Freedom House regarding Turkey's systematic approach to information control during crisis situations, reflecting the government's increased capacity to suppress dissent and limit public discourse that intensified following recent economic challenges and municipal election defeats.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey |title=Turkey Overview |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=31 March 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | |||
==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
Line 48: | Line 58: | ||
===Censorship Using Deep Packet Inspection=== | ===Censorship Using Deep Packet Inspection=== | ||
Superonline is one of the most active utilizers of deep packet inspection (DPI) technology among internet service providers in Turkey. With this technology, Superonline applies content-based censorship by analyzing users' internet traffic in detail. Unlike traditional packet inspection, DPI technology also scans the content of data packets and provides the ability to detect and block VPN protocols. According to user reports, Superonline has one of the most strictly censored internet service in Turkey, and in the past has taken measures strict enough to completely block VPN protocols such as WireGuard. It also blocks or throttles popular VPN services and their websites such as Cloudflare Warp (connection itself), ProtonVPN (throttles the website), Surfshark (throttles the website, up-to-date info required for connection), Psiphon (connection itself), NordVPN (throttles the website, up-to-date info required for connection) and constantly tightens its DPI-based scanning systems. | Superonline is one of the most active utilizers of deep packet inspection (DPI) technology among internet service providers in Turkey, operating within a regulatory environment that Freedom House describes as systematically restricting online freedoms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-net/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom on the Net 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> With this technology, Superonline applies content-based censorship by analyzing users' internet traffic in detail, implementing policies that align with Turkey's broader approach to internet control documented by Freedom House as part of the country's "Not Free" internet status.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey |title=Turkey Overview |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=31 March 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | ||
Unlike traditional packet inspection, DPI technology also scans the content of data packets and provides the ability to detect and block VPN protocols. According to user reports, Superonline has one of the most strictly censored internet service in Turkey, and in the past has taken measures strict enough to completely block VPN protocols such as WireGuard. It also blocks or throttles popular VPN services and their websites such as Cloudflare Warp (connection itself), ProtonVPN (throttles the website), Surfshark (throttles the website, up-to-date info required for connection), Psiphon (connection itself), NordVPN (throttles the website, up-to-date info required for connection) and constantly tightens its DPI-based scanning systems. | |||
== | This censorship approach reflects Turkey's broader decline in press and internet freedom documented extensively by Freedom House, including the closure of more than 150 media outlets after the 2016 coup attempt and the systematic targeting of independent media through fines, shutdowns, and arrests.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-world/2018 |title=Turkey: Freedom in the World 2018 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=5 July 2020 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> The implementation of laws imposing prison sentences of up to three years for individuals deemed to promote false information on social media has created additional pressure on ISPs like Superonline to implement stringent content filtering measures.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-world/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom in the World 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=4 November 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | ||
Since 2020, the government has forced major social media companies including Facebook and YouTube to maintain offices in Turkey and comply with government demands to take down content, creating a regulatory environment where ISPs must implement extensive censorship mechanisms as documented in Freedom House's comprehensive assessments of Turkey's deteriorating digital rights landscape.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-world/2023 |title=Turkey: Freedom in the World 2023 |website=Freedom House |publisher=Freedom House |date=4 November 2023 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== |