Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has decided to block Instagram. The official announcement on the BTK website provided no details on the duration or specific reasons behind the ban. Impact on Users Instagram users across Turkey are currently unable to access the platform. Other services by Meta, including Facebook, remain operational. Turkey’s Instagram user base stands at 57.1 million, making it the platform’s fifth-largest market worldwide. According to BTK sources quoted by Reuters, the platform was blocked using the authority’s discretionary powers. This move came after Instagram restricted posts concerning the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas. The BTK is reportedly seeking a court order to formalize the ban within the next 24 to 48 hours. Government’s Reaction Fahrettin Altun, head of the Directorate of Communications under Turkey’s presidency, condemned Instagram’s censorship on July 31 following the news of Haniyeh’s assassination. “This is a clear and blatant act of censorship. We will continue to defend freedom of expression against platforms that serve global exploitation and injustice.” Altun said in a post on X. Filistin Davasına olan desteğimizi ve Filistinli kardeşlerimizle dayanışmamızı göstermek amacıyla, Hamas Siyasi Büro Başkanı İsmail Heniye’nin şehadeti sebebiyle, yarın (2 Ağustos Cuma) 1 günlük millî yas ilan edilmiştir.… pic.twitter.com/p8wt0R1YRo — Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) August 1, 2024 Broader Implications The ban raises significant questions about national sovereignty and global digital platforms. This situation underscores the ongoing conflict between governments and social media companies regarding content regulation and freedom of expression. Turkey’s government is described as oppressive by critics. At the very least the country has shown a strict policy towards internet freedom in the past. Previous episodes have seen Turkey block Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social networks. In 2016, the country temporarily blocked major cloud storage providers, including Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
Instagram Access Blocked in Turkey Over Content Dispute
Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has decided to block Instagram. The official announcement on the BTK website provided no details on the duration or specific reasons behind the ban. Impact on Users Instagram users across Turkey are currently unable to access the platform. Other services by Meta, including Facebook, remain operational. Turkey’s Instagram user base stands at 57.1 million, making it the platform’s fifth-largest market worldwide. According to BTK sources quoted by Reuters, the platform was blocked using the authority’s discretionary powers. This move came after Instagram restricted posts concerning the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas. The BTK is reportedly seeking a court order to formalize the ban within the next 24 to 48 hours. Government’s Reaction Fahrettin Altun, head of the Directorate of Communications under Turkey’s presidency, condemned Instagram’s censorship on July 31 following the news of Haniyeh’s assassination. “This is a clear and blatant act of censorship. We will continue to defend freedom of expression against platforms that serve global exploitation and injustice.” Altun said in a post on X. Filistin Davasına olan desteğimizi ve Filistinli kardeşlerimizle dayanışmamızı göstermek amacıyla, Hamas Siyasi Büro Başkanı İsmail Heniye’nin şehadeti sebebiyle, yarın (2 Ağustos Cuma) 1 günlük millî yas ilan edilmiştir.… pic.twitter.com/p8wt0R1YRo — Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) August 1, 2024 Broader Implications The ban raises significant questions about national sovereignty and global digital platforms. This situation underscores the ongoing conflict between governments and social media companies regarding content regulation and freedom of expression. Turkey’s government is described as oppressive by critics. At the very least the country has shown a strict policy towards internet freedom in the past. Previous episodes have seen Turkey block Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social networks. In 2016, the country temporarily blocked major cloud storage providers, including Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
