Turkey’s authoritarian president Erdogan whose mantra is “if I can’t conquer it, might as well destroy it”, has now turned his gaze to social media platforms, banning popular gaming site Roblox, after Instagram. His crusade against social media is highly unpopular with voters and impairs booming new businesses.
Roblox, the widely popular online gaming platform, is banned in Türkiye on Wednesday, a move that comes in the wake of a nationwide block on Instagram. This decision has intensified discussions on digital freedom and content moderation practices within the country.
On August 2, 2024, Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) had announced that Instagram would be blocked nationwide, affecting 57.1 million users. The ban, enforced under BTK’s discretionary power, is anticipated to be formalized by court order within 24 to 48 hours, according to ruling number 490.05.01.2024-608903. No official explanation or timeline for the ban was provided. Other Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp remain accessible.
The block on Instagram was reportedly triggered by the platform’s restriction of posts concerning Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, following his reported assassination. This action has led to mounting dissatisfaction in Türkiye over perceived censorship. Fahrettin Altun, head of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, condemned Instagram’s actions as an assault on freedom of expression and global justice.
“We will continue to defend freedom of expression against platforms that serve global exploitation and injustice,” Altun stated.
Following the Instagram block, Türkiye has now extended its internet restrictions by banning Roblox. While specific reasons for the Roblox ban have not been disclosed, the decision has left millions of users in Türkiye unable to access Roblox, further fueling debates on digital freedom and government control over online content.
There is no explanation for the ban in Turkish media. According to e-commerce sources the Instagram ban is threatening a $1.5 bn/year business. According to pollster ASAL, the Instagram ban already cost Erdogan’s AKP 2 percentage points in the polls.
In related news, the administration raised various taxes on e-commerce orders from abroad, presumably to slow down the inflow of cheap Chinese goods. Shopping sites from China are increasingly popular with Turkey’s IT savvy young professionals, who bargain shop at a time when high inflation and slowing economic growth is threatening purchasing power. This measure too, is expected to undermine Erdogan’s approval ratings, though PA Turkey has not seen any polls on the subject.
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