Turkey lifts Instagram ban after agreement

The social media platform was initially blocked on 2 August for failing to adhere to Turkish regulations and public sensitivities, including accusations of blocking condolence posts for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Turkey flag is depicted on the screen with the program code

Türkiye restored access to Instagram after a nine-day ban, which had been imposed due to the platform’s failure to comply with local laws and sensitivities. The restriction was lifted after Instagram’s parent company, Meta, agreed to cooperate with Turkish authorities. The ban was initially triggered by Instagram’s blocking of condolence posts related to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of the Palestinian group Hamas. The action sparked significant protests from users and small businesses in Türkiye, which ranks fifth globally in Instagram usage with over 57 million users.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced the end of the ban, citing successful negotiations with Instagram officials. These discussions resulted in Meta agreeing to remove posts and content that contain elements of certain crimes or terrorism propaganda, which is in line with Turkish law. Uraloglu emphasised that these measures would enhance digital security and legal compliance in Türkiye and protect user rights.

The ban was the longest imposed on a major social media platform in Türkiye in recent years. It drew significant attention from users and monitoring groups like NetBlocks, which reported the gradual restoration of Instagram across Türkiye’s main internet providers following the agreement.