Turkey Lifts Instagram Ban After Compliance Agreement
In a significant development, Turkey restored nationwide access to Instagram on Saturday night, ending a ban that lasted over a week. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority had blocked the platform on August 2, citing non-compliance with Turkish laws as the reason.
Turkey’s transportation and infrastructure minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, announced on social media platform X that Instagram officials had assured the government of their compliance, especially concerning criminal activities. Instagram committed to collaborating on user censorship and swiftly addressing legal violations.
In a video elaboration on X, Uraloglu specified that the platform would adhere to Turkish laws, with rapid interventions for non-compliance. He emphasized that accounts associated with terrorist organizations, particularly the PKK, PYD, and FETO, would be banned, and related content removed.
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) aims to establish autonomy in Southeastern Turkey and has been in conflict with the government for decades. The PYD is a Syrian Kurdish political entity linked by Turkish officials to the PKK. FETO, led by Fethullah Gulen, is blamed by the government for the failed 2016 coup attempt.
Instagram is immensely popular in Turkey, boasting over 57 million users out of a population of 85 million, according to We Are Social Media. The Electronic Commerce Operators’ Association notes that social media platforms, including Instagram, generate approximately 930 million Turkish lira ($27 million) in daily e-commerce revenue.
First Published: Aug 11, 2024 | 6:40 AM IST
Original Story https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/after-blocking-access-for-over-a-week-turkey-lifts-curbs-on-instagram-124081100023_1.html
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