Turkish officials are set to meet with Instagram representatives on August 5, 2024, to discuss the ongoing access ban imposed on the platform since August 2. The ban was implemented by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) due to alleged violations of Turkish laws and failure to address ‘catalog crimes’.Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced the meeting, stating, “We conveyed our sensitivity regarding compliance with Turkish laws. We will meet with them again this afternoon. We hope they will take the necessary steps to meet our demands and we are expecting positive developments”.The ban has significantly impacted Turkey’s 57 million Instagram users, making it the fifth-largest user base globally. According to Emre Ekmekçi, vice-president of the Association of E-commerce Operators, the blockage could cost the Turkish economy approximately $57 million per day.The exact reasons for the ban remain unclear, with some speculating it may be related to the platform’s removal of condolence messages for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. A Meta spokesperson expressed concern, stating, “Millions of people in Turkey are being deprived of a daily means of communication with their families and friends, while businesses are also unable to reach their customers”.As the meeting unfolds, both Turkish officials and Instagram users await the outcome, hoping for a resolution that addresses the government’s concerns while restoring access to the popular social media platform.
Key points
- Turkish officials are meeting with Instagram representatives to discuss lifting the access ban imposed since August 2.
- The ban was implemented due to alleged violations of Turkish laws and failure to address ‘catalog crimes’.
- The blockage affects 57 million Turkish Instagram users and could cost the economy approximately $57 million per day.
Contradictions👾While most sources indicate the ban started on August 2, one source mentions it began on Friday, which could be a discrepancy in reporting.
