Turkey’s media watchdog has warned Spotify to regulate its content in line with Turkish legislation or risk critical items being removed or cut.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) said that it will consider removing or cutting all content found inappropriate – a term that is open to interpretation when applied to high-profile critical podcasts that attract large audiences.

Spotify was granted an operating license by Turkey for 10 years after applying on October 15. But its digital content is open to monitoring by the country’s media regulator.
“With this granted license, the platform has to regulate its content in line with our laws,” RTÜK president Ebubekir Şahin told pro-government newspaper Sabah.

“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.

Spotify offers a relative free space in a media environment in which almost 90% of companies are related to pro-government conglomerates.

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