Turkey: Instagram blocked
Instagram has been blocked in Turkey. The social network was blocked following a decision on August 2, according to the pro-government news agency DHA, citing the Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority.
The popular Instagram platform is no longer accessible in Turkey. According to reports from the state-affiliated news agency DHA, the Turkish Information and Communication Technology Authority blocked the platform on August 2. The exact reasons and the expected duration of the blockade are currently unknown.
On the morning of August 2, Instagram was only accessible in Turkey via VPN connections, indicating a comprehensive geo-blocking measure. Cyber rights activist Yaman Akdeniz explained on the platform X that the blocking was carried out in the name of "national security and the protection of public order". Geoblocking means that content is blocked based on the IP address of users in certain regions. This can have varying degrees of impact on users with foreign SIM cards in Turkey.
One day before the block, Turkish communications director Fahrettin Altun accused Instagram of blocking messages of condolence for Ismail Hanija, the slain foreign head of the Islamist Hamas, and accused the platform of censorship. It is not yet clear whether this incident is directly related to the block. Turkey has declared a day of national mourning for Friday following the death of Hanija, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on the X platform. Turkey maintains close relations with Hamas, which first became apparent in April when Erdogan met Hanija in Istanbul.
