Türkiye targets Telegram for next digital crackdown after Instagram ban lifted

Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has issued over a thousand warnings to the messaging app Telegram, citing the presence of illegal content such as drug trafficking, prostitution, gambling and pedophilia.

Despite multiple notifications to Telegram’s headquarters in the U.K., there has been no response, raising the possibility of a ban in Türkiye.

Telegram faces potential ban

Türkiye, which ranks 10th globally in Telegram usage with approximately 8 million active users, may follow Instagram’s recent lead. Instagram, which has 58 million users in Türkiye, was temporarily shut down for 8 days due to “non-compliance with catalog crimes.”

On Aug. 10, Instagram reopened after Meta agreed to Türkiye’s conditions.

Illegal activities on Telegram

Telegram has been accused of becoming a “crime hub,” with channels openly engaging in illegal activities, including:

• Drug trafficking: Channels like “Drug Dealers” with nearly 19,000 subscribers facilitating drug sales.
• Prostitution, pedophilia: Explicit content, including child exploitation videos, reportedly sold for ₺5,000 to ₺50,000.

BTK’s actions, next steps

BTK has made over 1,000 requests to Telegram to shut down these illegal channels but has yet to receive compliance.

If Telegram does not take action and address these issues, a ban in Türkiye seems increasingly likely. This would represent another step in the government’s efforts to regulate digital platforms that fail to adhere to Turkish laws.