CyberDissidents.org sparked international controversy following an op-ed authored by the organisation's director on February 16, 2010, in The Wall Street Journal criticizing Turkey's ban on YouTube,Keyes, David. "Turkey's Internet Repression", The Wall Street Journal, New York, February 16, 2010. Retrieved on May 19, 2010. which launched a protest movement in Turkey. According to PBS, Keyes' piece which was written from Istanbul, caused the Turkish newspaper Milliyet, together with other leading Turkish papers, to initiate a protest campaign to draw attention to the ban on YouTube.Le Coz, Clothilde. "Turkish Reporters Unite to Protest YouTube Ban", PBS, Washington DC, March 9, 2010. Retrieved on May 19, 2010. Shortly after the publication of Keyes' article, Turkish president Abdullah Gul came out against the ban."Abdullah Gul against bans on Youtube, Google" , Hurriyet Daily News, June 12, 2010. Retrieved on August 23, 2010.
