Did Instagram ban put President Erdogan against Transport Minister Uraloglu?
A woman holds a phone showing the Instagram logo, Istanbul, Türkiye, Aug. 3, 2024. (EPA Photo)
Türkiye has imposed a ban on Instagram, citing dissatisfaction with the double standards seen in posts related to Hamas and the PKK.
President Erdogan is reportedly uncertain about whether Instagram will reopen, and there are claims of tension between him and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
In July, there was a backlash in Türkiye after some users shared songs and music associated with the PKK on Instagram and other social media sites.
The alleged double standards of Instagram’s policies are concerning for high-level Turkish officials. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, previously had a representative in Türkiye who generally enforced local administrative and court decisions regarding such content. However, officials believed that more measures, such as the automatic removal of posts linked to the PKK or other criminal activities, were necessary.
On July 31, after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, Meta began automatically removing condolence messages on Instagram, referencing the U.S. designation of the Palestinian group as a terrorist organization. This move further fueled controversy, particularly as Meta faced backlash in Türkiye.
Minister Uraloglu expressed concerns about Meta and sought permission to take further action without specifying the next steps. While Erdogan was reported to have approved this request, it remains unclear if Uraloglu intended to completely shut down Instagram in Türkiye.
However, on Aug. 2, access to the platform was restricted for Turkish users. Millions of Turks use Instagram for various purposes, including entertainment, education, and commerce, leading to reactions from users and opposition.
According to sources, Meta officials assured Turkish authorities that they would take action on PKK-related content. Yet, Turkish officials noted that Meta proposed to only hide PKK-related posts for users in Türkiye, allowing access for those outside the country.
Officials found this proposal insufficient, pointing out that content related to Hamas was removed not just in the U.S., but globally.
Despite apparent support among high-level government officials for Instagram restrictions, a cabinet meeting on Monday revealed some internal conflict. Two sources indicated that Erdogan displayed mixed attitudes during the discussion, with one source quoting him telling Uraloglu, “You’ve put us in big trouble. We started all this, so we need concrete results before lifting the block.”
Another source claimed Erdogan was not angry with the minister but was instead making a joke.
Meanwhile, talks between Turkish officials and Instagram continue. Minister Uraloglu stated, “Our team is continuously negotiating with Instagram. We are in the final stretch and hope to reach an agreement soon.”
