LONDON: YouTube has appointed a Turkish local representative to comply with the country鈥檚 controversial internet law, in a decision that human rights groups warn is a violation of free expression.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday said the move will make YouTube 鈥渕uch more susceptible鈥� to content removal and take-down requests by Turkish authorities.

鈥淚t will inevitably lead to an increase in arbitrary censorship, compromise people鈥檚 privacy and right of access to information, and could implicate YouTube in human rights violations,鈥� HRW said.

鈥淚t sets a dangerous precedent that makes it harder for other tech companies to refuse to appoint a local representative in Turkey,鈥� it added.

鈥淩ather than cooperate with this form of state interference with freedom of expression, YouTube should be a partner in efforts to challenge the law and champion the right to free speech.鈥�

Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, said: 鈥淭he main social media companies quite rightly have so far chosen not to comply with this draconian law, which facilitates censorship.鈥�

He added: 鈥淵ouTube鈥檚 decision to comply with the requirement to set up a local representative in the belief that it will be possible to ride out the storm and hold out against a flood of take-down requests is deeply misguided and blinkered to the deplorable climate for free speech in Turkey.鈥�

HRW said YouTube failed to consult with civil society groups before making the decision. However, the company said it will 鈥渃ontinue to preserve the platform鈥檚 vibrance and openness.鈥�

It added: 鈥淭his will not change how YouTube reviews content removal requests, nor will it change how YouTube handles or holds user data.鈥�

HRW said YouTube鈥檚 decision is 鈥渄eeply disappointing and troubling,鈥� and is part of 鈥渢he company鈥檚 failure to understand existing threats and violations to freedom of expression in Turkey.鈥�

Yaman Akdeniz, a founder of the Turkish Freedom of Expression Association, said: 鈥淚n the absence of due process and an independent judiciary, including functioning democratic institutions such as the Constitutional Court, it will be impossible for YouTube or any social media platform to protect the rights of users in Turkey as they will become the long arm of the Turkish state.鈥�

Sarah Clarke, head of Europe and Central Asia at British human rights organization ARTICLE 19, said: 鈥淭ech companies should not bow to this pressure or enter into behind-closed-doors agreements with authorities.鈥�

She added: 鈥淎s long as the environment for freedom of expression and the rule of law is this hostile in Turkey, other social media platforms should continue not to comply with the amendments to the Internet law.鈥�