Turkey restricts social media after blast in Taksim, Istanbul
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Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) announces a media blackout following the explosion in Taksim, Istanbul.
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Social media was restricted in Turkey after the blast in Taksim. (Reuters)
Turkey is under a social media blackout, following the deadly explosion on Istiklal Street in Taksim, Istanbul, which restricted media coverage of the incident on multiple internet providers, according to network data.
The disruption comes as Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) announced a media blackout on the subject of the explosion.
According to Real-time NetBlocks statistics, social media and communication platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and some Telegram servers are currently restricted.
The measure was initially implemented on leading network operator Turk Telekom before covering most of the major internet service providers. Metrics are collected from an initial set of 50 vantage points across the country to confirm user reports of service outages.
⚠️ Confirmed: Live network data show that social media platforms Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook have been restricted in #Turkey after a deadly explosion in #Taksim, Istanbul; authorities issued a broadcast ban following the incident
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) November 13, 2022
📰 Report: https://t.co/Xww9RgoNlu pic.twitter.com/75DMsF5QLi
Turkey has a long history of restricting access to social media platforms in the aftermath of explosions, political incidents, and terror attacks. However, the policy has been criticized for restricting access to support and assistance in times of emergency, as well as for restricting press freedom.
The ongoing censorship of Twitter among other social media platforms in #Turkey will be the first real international test for Twitter's @policy and human rights teams after Elon Musk's acquisition and staff reduction. Hours on, there is still no public statement from the company. https://t.co/OinBIPKhIB
— Alp Toker (@atoker) November 13, 2022
Access to information is vital in times of emergency. Research shows that social media restrictions increase misinformation after security incidents and attacks.#Turkey should end its policy of social media blackouts (and platforms should carefully moderate) during crises. https://t.co/TQol7tqG9y
— Alp Toker (@atoker) November 13, 2022
Following the publication of this report, Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) confirmed that social media restrictions had been imposed, stating that they were in place to prevent the publication and circulation of images from the scene of the incident.
Internet access has been severely restricted in the wake of the attack. Devasting for people trying to reach out to loved ones. https://t.co/6weTtJX240
— Rachel Hagan (@rachelhagan_) November 13, 2022
This type of disruption can be avoided by using VPN services, which can bypass government internet censorship.
Read next: Erdogan says initial signs point to 'terror' attack in Istanbul
