Turkey has taken the drastic step of blocking access to the popular social media platform Instagram, leaving users unable to access the platform’s website or mobile app. The move, announced by the Turkish Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), came without any stated reason or indication of how long the ban will remain in place. This action follows recent criticisms from Turkish officials regarding Instagram’s decision to restrict condolence posts related to the death of Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent figure in the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Fahrettin Altun, the communications director of the Turkish presidency, vehemently denounced Instagram’s actions on X (formerly Twitter), calling it ‘censorship, pure and simple.’ He asserted that Instagram had not cited any policy violations to justify the removal of these posts.
At this time, Instagram’s parent company, Meta Platforms Inc, has not issued any statement concerning either the ban or Altun’s accusations. This incident raises concerns about freedom of speech and the potential for government interference in online platforms, especially in light of the lack of transparency surrounding the decision to block access to Instagram in Turkey.
