Instagram users in Turkey were baffled when the country decided to block access to the popular Meta platform, without any sort of prior warning.
Reports published on Friday spoke about how the popular social media app failed to comply with the nation’s rules and regulations as revealed by one government minister.
The news comes just after a Turkish official alleged Instagram of blocking and censoring posts linked to Hamas, especially after the group’s leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated. As mentioned in a new statement, Turkey says it’s already mentioned time and time again through a set of warnings that it would no longer tolerate offenses made intentionally by the app.
He added how certain rules must be followed and intervention is necessary when rules get disregarded. Furthermore, he slammed the Meta-owned platform for disregarding its citizens' sentiments related to the recent Hamas leader assassination and felt that it violated users' freedom of expression.
While the official failed to highlight which shortcomings were continuously taking place, it did mention how currently, access to the app would be restricted after a ban was rolled out by authorities familiar with the matter.
The leading official of the country’s communications mentioned how blocking posts linked to condolences was a purely evil act of censorship. Hence. It would not be tolerated.
It is important to note that Meta has faced significant criticism for its history of blocking and censoring pro-Palestinian voices and content from Muslim-majority regions. During the ongoing Gaza-Israel war, Meta was accused of suppressing posts sympathetic to Palestinians, leading to widespread allegations of bias.
For now, there are yet to be any remarks or comments made in return for the questions rolled out from Meta Platforms. It neither refuted nor confirmed the news which is said to have come into play as early as yesterday.
The ban, effective as of yesterday, highlights ongoing tensions between global platforms and national regulations regarding freedom of expression and content moderation.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Pakistan Aims To Block All VPNs That Circumvent Ban On X
Reports published on Friday spoke about how the popular social media app failed to comply with the nation’s rules and regulations as revealed by one government minister.
The news comes just after a Turkish official alleged Instagram of blocking and censoring posts linked to Hamas, especially after the group’s leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated. As mentioned in a new statement, Turkey says it’s already mentioned time and time again through a set of warnings that it would no longer tolerate offenses made intentionally by the app.
He added how certain rules must be followed and intervention is necessary when rules get disregarded. Furthermore, he slammed the Meta-owned platform for disregarding its citizens' sentiments related to the recent Hamas leader assassination and felt that it violated users' freedom of expression.
While the official failed to highlight which shortcomings were continuously taking place, it did mention how currently, access to the app would be restricted after a ban was rolled out by authorities familiar with the matter.
The leading official of the country’s communications mentioned how blocking posts linked to condolences was a purely evil act of censorship. Hence. It would not be tolerated.
It is important to note that Meta has faced significant criticism for its history of blocking and censoring pro-Palestinian voices and content from Muslim-majority regions. During the ongoing Gaza-Israel war, Meta was accused of suppressing posts sympathetic to Palestinians, leading to widespread allegations of bias.
For now, there are yet to be any remarks or comments made in return for the questions rolled out from Meta Platforms. It neither refuted nor confirmed the news which is said to have come into play as early as yesterday.
The ban, effective as of yesterday, highlights ongoing tensions between global platforms and national regulations regarding freedom of expression and content moderation.
Read next: Pakistan Aims To Block All VPNs That Circumvent Ban On X
