When will Instagram, which BTK has blocked access to, be opened?

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority had blocked access to the social media platform Instagram on August 2. The relevant decision was seen on the BTK’s website information query page, and the institution’s statement included the following statements: “The Instagram catalog was closed due to not being consistent with the crimes.” The BTK’s access blocking decision came immediately after Communications Director Fahrettin Altun stated that he had published a condolence message following the death of Hamas leader Haniye and that Instagram had blocked the posts in question.

“IT WILL BE OPENED WHEN THEY COMPLY WITH THE LAW”

While there were many reactions from both politicians and citizens to the closure of Instagram, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, who said that they were waiting for a move from Instagram to lift the ban, said about Instagram, to which access was blocked, “As soon as they comply with the law, Instagram will be opened, we warned them, but there was no response.”

WILL INSTAGRAM REMAIN CLOSED?

Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said, “There are some social media platforms that have representatives in our country – and all of them have representatives. There are certain rules, laws, regulations that we want to be applied to them. Despite the warnings we make from time to time, we see some problems in compliance. This is a framework that we call ‘catalog crimes’ that they do not take into account despite all our latest warnings. We warned them within the scope of that framework, but since we did not find the necessary response, we imposed an access ban. When they fulfill these mentioned deficiencies, our sensitivities, and the parties that do not comply with our law, we will take the necessary action and lift this access ban.” It is estimated that if Instagram does not make a move on this issue, the issue of access bans will remain on the agenda for a while longer.

OTHER PLATFORMS AND KAPANIR MI?

When asked whether there were any plans for other social media platforms, Minister Uraloğlu said, “We are a country governed by the rule of law. We definitely follow this. We are in communication with them. I can say that they do many things we say; but sometimes this may not be reciprocated. Especially if they do not take into account both the rules we have set legally and some of our social sensitivities, we are forced to make the necessary interventions. In this sense, we are trying to manage the feelings of our citizens correctly.”

WHY WAS INSTAGRAM CLOSED?

Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun had published a condolence message on the social media platform X account on July 31 after Haniye’s death. Fahrettin Altun stated that Instagram had blocked his posts about Haniye, and said, “I condemn both the social media platform Instagram for not publishing condolence messages for the martyrdom of Haniye without giving any reason. This is a very clear and obvious censorship.” After Altun’s post, BTK blocked access to Instagram on August 2.

DAILY TURNOVER LOSS OF 1.9 BILLION TL

The closure of Instagram also caused negative effects on the economy. Providing information on the subject, Electronic Commerce Operators Association (ETİD) Board of Directors Vice President Emre Ekmekçi stated that 10 percent of e-commerce is made up of social media and that the closure of Instagram means a daily turnover loss of 1.9 billion TL in e-commerce.