Instagram: Erdogan blocks social media platform in Turkey | Life & Knowledge

Turkey has blocked access to the social media platform Instagram following allegations of an alleged attempt to censor pro-Hamas content, the Turkish Information Technology and Communications Authority (BTK) announced on Friday.

It is not yet known how long the blockade will last.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously Instagram criticized for blocking messages of condolence for the slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniya. “A very clear and obvious attempt at censorship,” said presidential spokesman Fahrettin Altun.

Hanija was killed in Tehran on Wednesday. The Hamas might Israel responsible for this. Erdogan declared a national day of mourning for Haniya, which is often Türkiye stayed.

Instagram is extremely popular in Turkey: 50 million of the 85 million inhabitants have a user account. Digital law expert Yaman Akdeniz calls the ban “arbitrary” and without “explanation or justification”.

Turkish authorities have often blocked online networks such as Facebook and Twitter, usually after attacks. Between April 2017 and January 2020, the online encyclopedia Wikipedia was also not easily accessible from Turkey because two entries stated that there were links between the government in Ankara and extremist organizations.