In a sudden and unexplained move, access to Instagram has been blocked in Turkey.
This action follows previous instances where Turkey restricted access to popular online platforms, including Wikipedia. As of now, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has not issued an official response to the ban.
50 Million Turks Affected by the Block
According to Reuters, the Instagram app is currently inaccessible in Turkey, affecting over 50 million users in a country with a population of 85 million. This follows criticism from Fahrettin Altun, Director of Communications for the Turkish presidency, who accused Instagram of censoring content related to Ismáíl Haníja, a Hamas leader and close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was killed in an attack in Iran. Altun expressed his concerns on X, accusing Instagram of censorship without providing a clear violation of rules.
Meta’s Silence and Past Actions
So far, Meta has not commented on the block or Altun’s accusations. The company has previously faced similar issues in Turkey; for example, in April, Meta suspended its Threads platform after Turkish authorities prevented it from sharing information with Instagram.
Historical Context: Wikipedia Ban
This is not the first time Turkey has taken such drastic measures. Between 2017 and 2020, the country blocked access to Wikipedia due to articles linking the Turkish presidency to extremist activities. Erdoğan’s government has frequently been accused of infringing on civil liberties by restricting access to online information.
In summary, Turkey’s latest move to block Instagram affects millions and raises concerns about censorship and online freedom in the country. As of now, the reasons behind the block remain unclear, and Meta has yet to respond publicly.
