ISTANBUL:Turkiye has begun unblocking access to Instagram after a nine-day restriction that left millions of users in the country without access to the popular social media platform.
The announcement was made by Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, on Saturday evening.
“Following our negotiations with representatives of Instagram, we will unblock access starting from 9:30 pm (1830 GMT) after they agreed to respond to our demands,” Uraloglu stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Instagram access began to progressively return after the announced time, as confirmed by AFP reporters. The reasons behind the initial blockade, which began on the morning of August 2, were not fully disclosed by Turkish authorities. However, Uraloglu highlighted “violations linked to content” as the primary issue, mentioning that Instagram had refused to remove thousands of posts related to “gambling, drugs, and abuse of children.”
Read More: Türkiye Block Instagram Over Content Dispute
Despite this, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, denied the allegations of non-cooperation, asserting that it had already removed nearly 2,500 posts during the first half of the year at the request of Turkish authorities.
The situation escalated when Fahrettin Altun, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s communications director, accused Instagram of blocking condolence messages for Ismael Haniyeh, the political leader of the Palestinian group Hamas and a close ally of Erdogan.
This dispute comes at a time when social media platforms are under increasing scrutiny by the Turkish government, which has consistently pushed for tighter regulations on online content. Uraloglu emphasized that the government expects all social media platforms to “respect the laws of the Republic.”
The blockage affected a significant portion of Turkiye’s population, as it is estimated that between 60 and 70 percent of the country’s 85 million inhabitants have Instagram accounts.
The disruption also had financial implications, with approximately $57 million of business conducted on the platform daily, according to Emre Ekmekci, vice-president of an e-commerce association.
While Instagram access has been restored, other online services remain restricted. As of Saturday evening, access to the popular online game Roblox remained blocked for a fourth consecutive day, highlighting ongoing tensions between digital platforms and Turkish authorities.
This incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between digital freedom and governmental control in an increasingly connected world. As social media continues to play a pivotal role in communication, commerce, and culture, the relationship between governments and tech companies will remain a critical area of focus.
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