In response to a lawsuit filed by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) over the temporary ban on Instagram, Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has clarified that the platform was blocked because it failed to remove content related to catalog crimes, as per their requests. The BTK also explained that after discussions with Instagram’s parent company, Meta Platforms, Inc., the ban was lifted on August 10, 2024.
The ban, imposed on August 2, 2024, was challenged by MLSA's legal team, arguing that the decision violated freedoms of expression, press, and communication. Although Instagram was restored after a week of negotiations, the MLSA continued to pursue the case, seeking accountability for the initial block.
On September 6, 2024, the Ankara 7th Administrative Court ruled in favor of MLSA, finding BTK at fault and ordering them to cover court costs and legal fees. However, since the access block had already been lifted, the court ruled that no further decision was necessary regarding the ban itself.
BTK’s response to the appeal, issued on October 25, provided the first official explanation for the ban. The authority stated that the block was enacted because Instagram did not comply with requests to remove content associated with crimes outlined in Article 8 of Law No. 5651, which covers catalog crimes. They further explained that the ban was lifted following negotiations with Instagram representatives, asserting that they had the authority to both impose and lift the ban.
This legal dispute has highlighted ongoing concerns over digital censorship and platform accountability in Turkey, particularly regarding the balance between national regulations and freedom of expression online.
