content tagged with online censorship

Turkey blocks access to social media platforms after Ankara attack

Turkey blocks access to social media platforms after Ankara attack

The platforms were accsible when the attack on the aerospace agency was still unfolding. Images from the agency's security camera footage widely circulated on social media.

23 October 2024

Over 40% of public supports Turkey’s social media bans, survey finds

Over 40% of public supports Turkey’s social media bans, survey finds

The poll comes in the wake of last month’s ban on Instagram.

19 September 2024

Turkish court orders block on X accounts of well-known politicians, journalists

Turkish court orders block on X accounts of well-known politicians, journalists

Several Kurdish journalists and a Kurdish-German politician were also targeted in the court order.

Court blocks social media accounts of two Kurdish journalists

Court blocks social media accounts of two Kurdish journalists

The court provided “national security” reasons for the decision.

Pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya Agency’s website blocked

Pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya Agency’s website blocked

The agency has changed its domain to continue its operations.

Instagram continues to censor Hamas-related posts despite agreement with Turkey

Instagram continues to censor Hamas-related posts despite agreement with Turkey

While the messages of senior government officials remain accessible, the platform removes similar messages from other users.

Turkey restores access to Instagram after Hamas row

Turkey restores access to Instagram after Hamas row

The initial disagreement between government officials and Meta reportedly arose over the definition of “terrorism.” Meanwhile, Meta had already removed or restricted nearly 2,500 posts as per Turkish authorities' requests in the first half of 2024.

Sixty-one bar associations in Turkey demand lift of Instagram ban

Sixty-one bar associations in Turkey demand lift of Instagram ban

The ban was enacted following the government’s criticism of the platform’s alleged censorship of condolences for killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Erdoğan labels critics of Instagram ban ‘house negros’

Erdoğan labels critics of Instagram ban ‘house negros’

The president highlighted the censorship of pro-Palestinian posts by Instagram and Facebook.

‘Instagram ban could cost Turkey $57 million daily’

‘Instagram ban could cost Turkey $57 million daily’

Government officials are scheduled to meet with Instagram representatives today, and the transport minister has expressed optimism that the ban may soon be lifted.

Turkey blocks Instagram after Erdoğan aide’s ‘censorship’ claim over killed Hamas leader

Turkey blocks Instagram after Erdoğan aide’s ‘censorship’ claim over killed Hamas leader

The president’s communications director criticized Instagram for censoring messages of condolences for the Hamas leader. Hours later, the internet authority blocked the platform without providing a specific reason.

Access to news site banned after pro-government media group’s request

Access to news site banned after pro-government media group’s request

Medya Radar, a news site focusing on the journalism sector, had reported allegations of low wages against the Turkuvaz Media group.

Turkey becomes first country to ban Wattpad

Turkey becomes first country to ban Wattpad

Prior to the ban, there had been increasing criticism on social media from conservative groups regarding the content available on Wattpad.

Pro-Erdoğan professor gets over 2,900 articles about him censored

Pro-Erdoğan professor gets over 2,900 articles about him censored

Among the censored content is bianet's Media Monitoring Report, which documents all detected violations of press freedom in Turkey.

Report: Turkey blocked over 4,400 Twitter URLs in 2022

Report: Turkey blocked over 4,400 Twitter URLs in 2022

Most of the tweets were related to irregularity allegations against public officials and “violation of personal rights” was the most common reason, according to the Free Web Turkey report.

21 December 2023

Turkey’s ‘Ekşi Sözlük’ social media site banned again

Turkey’s ‘Ekşi Sözlük’ social media site banned again

A group monitoring online censorship in the country reported that the website was banned for reasons related to “national security and the preservation of public order.”

14 December 2023

Report: Turkey blocked access to over 40,000 URLs in 2022

Report: Turkey blocked access to over 40,000 URLs in 2022

The major portion of access restrictions in the past year targeted media outlets critical of the government and news related to President Erdoğan and his family, shows the Free Web Turkey report.

30 October 2023

Minister: Turkey blocked 108 million attempts to access 'harmful' websites in a decade

Minister: Turkey blocked 108 million attempts to access 'harmful' websites in a decade

Those "harmful" websites are primarily identified through the filtration of various keywords, which at times results in the blocking of LGBTI+ websites.

bianet’s Article on Journalism Blocked

bianet’s Article on Journalism Blocked

İstanbul 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace has blocked access to 11 news URL upon business person Bozovalı’s demand including bianet’s article. bianet’s content was about a journalistic debate.

Communication Technologies Authority Blocks Access to 3 News Sites

Communication Technologies Authority Blocks Access to 3 News Sites

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority has blocked access to direnisteyiz.org, Mezopotamya Agency and Kizilbayrak.net.

7 February 2018

Censorship on 4 News Sites

Censorship on 4 News Sites

Ankara 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace has blocked access to Mezopotamya Ajans, Demokrat Haber, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi and 1HaberVar news sites.

‘In Spite of Censorship’ Solidarity Party by sendika.org

‘In Spite of Censorship’ Solidarity Party by sendika.org

Being censored 51 times, sendika.org will organize a solidarity party on August 5.