Human rights and press freedom organizations have condemned Türkiye for throttling social media platforms and messaging apps during politically sensitive events, saying it restricts public access to vital information and impedes democratic participation. On September 7, major platforms including X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal were inaccessible in Istanbul for about 21 hours. The throttling coincided with a police blockade of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul headquarters following a court decision replacing the Party’s provincial leadership with trustees.
During this period, authorities also restricted peaceful assembly, used tear gas against demonstrators, journalists, and party staff, and detained at least 10 people. A public gathering ban was issued in six districts from September 7 to 11, while government-aligned media regulators warned that outlets “undermining social peace and public safety” could face fines, suspensions, or license revocations. No official explanation was provided for the throttling, though the government relies on Article 60/10 of the Electronic Communications Law to restrict communications temporarily without court approval.
Türkiye has a documented pattern of throttling platforms during critical events, including the 2023 earthquakes and past political incidents. The recent restrictions included widely used messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp, and alternatives such as VPNs are largely ineffective due to long-term blocks. These measures limit journalists’ ability to report, restrict public access to crucial information, and suppress political dissent, creating uncertainty during high-stakes events.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasizes that internet shutdowns must be legally justified, necessary, proportionate, and subject to prior court authorization with mechanisms for redress. Türkiye’s repeated use of throttling violates these standards, using communication restrictions as a tool to block scrutiny of government actions and silence dissenting voices. Human rights organizations are urging Türkiye to end these practices and uphold its international human rights obligations.
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