Turkey lifts Instagram ban, Roblox still blocked
What's the story
Turkey has reinstated access to Instagram, ending a nine-day nationwide restriction on the popular social media platform.
The decision was made after Instagram agreed to address the concerns raised by Turkish authorities.
The initial ban was imposed on August 2, due to the Meta-owned platform's alleged non-compliance with Turkish "laws and rules" and public sensitivities.
Notably, video game platform Roblox is still blocked in the country.
Allegations
Instagram accused of censoring posts related to Hamas leader's assassination
A high-ranking Turkish official had accused Instagram of censoring condolence messages related to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
This accusation came amid Turkey's vocal criticism of Israel's attacks on Gaza and its call for an immediate ceasefire.
The country has also expressed disapproval toward what it perceives as unconditional support for Israel by Western nations.
Result
Impact on users
The Instagram ban led to protests from both users and small businesses that depend on the platform for customer engagement.
As per Statista data, Turkey is the fifth-largest user of Instagram globally with over 57 million users. This places it behind India, the US, Brazil, and Indonesia.
The ban's impact was therefore significant given the platform's extensive use in the country.
Ban lifted
Turkish minister announces lifting of ban
Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, announced the lifting of the ban on Instagram.
He stated that this decision was made following successful negotiations with Instagram officials, who have agreed to cooperate on issues related to catalog crimes and user censorship.
Catalog crimes under Turkish law include serious offenses such as murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, abuse, and torture.
Compliance agreement
Meta agrees to comply with Turkish law
Uraloglu also emphasized that significant progress has been made in enhancing digital security in Turkey, ensuring legal compliance, protecting user rights, and developing a fair inspection mechanism.
He confirmed that Meta Platforms Inc. had agreed to adhere to Turkish law, and ensure efficient removal of posts and content carrying elements of certain crimes or "terrorism propaganda."
Restoration process
Instagram access restored across Turkey's main internet providers
According to internet monitor NetBlocks, live metrics showed that access to Instagram was being restored across Turkey's main internet providers after the nine-day national restriction.
This marked the nation's longest ban of a major social media platform in recent years.
The restoration process signifies a step toward resuming normal social media usage for millions of Turkish Instagram users.