ALBAWABA - Turkey announced removing the ban on Instagram access in the country on Saturday. Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) announced banning Instagram applications in the country 10 days ago after criticizing Instagram for blocking various posts that expressed condolences for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas Political Leader, in Tehran.
Turkey blocked Instagram 10 days ago
The banning decision was published on the country's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) on Friday, 2nd of August with no further details clarifying the direct reasons or the duration of the application’s blocking in the country.
Fahrettin Altun, Turkish Director of the Directorate of Communications, said on X (Formerly Twitter) that the country made this decision based on censorship acts carried out by Instagram and Meta company. He explained further that Instagram did not attribute the decision to a policy violation.
According to AFP, users in Turkey were able to access the application on Saturday night. (Shutterstock)
It is worth noting that more than 50 million people in Turkey use Instagram, which generates businesses estimated $57 million a day.
Turkey removes Instagram ban
Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, said the country will remove the ban following negotiations and discussions with the people behind Instagram.
He added the restriction will be removed on Saturday after the company responded to Turkey's demands. According to AFP, users in the country were able to access the application on Saturday night.
On another note, the country banned Roblox, an online game platform and game creation system developed by Roblox Corporation that allows users to program and play games created by themselves or other users. The country said the application was banned over child exploitation reasons.
