Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused social media platforms of “digital fascism” for allegedly censoring photos of Palestinian “martyrs.” Erdogan’s remarks come as Turkish officials negotiate with Instagram to restore access for millions of users in Turkey, following a ban by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority on Aug. 2.
The ban, reportedly due to a failure to comply with Turkish regulations, has sparked controversy, with media outlets suggesting it was in response to Instagram removing posts mourning the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. This incident reflects Turkey’s history of suppressing social media activism.
Erdogan criticized the platforms for banning photos of Palestinian martyrs while allowing terrorist propaganda. Turkey notably does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and Erdogan sees it as a liberation movement. Despite attempts to engage in dialogue, cooperation with social media companies remains elusive.
Meetings between Turkish authorities and Meta-owned Instagram have taken place to resolve the issue, as the platform boasts over 57 million users in Turkey. The impact of social media bans on e-commerce in the country is significant, highlighting the complex relationship between technology, politics, and freedom of expression.
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