Instagram ban to end once platform complies with Turkish laws, says transport minister

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu Tuesday has provided new updates regarding the ongoing access ban on Instagram.

“I can say we have made significant progress,” Uraloglu stated. “We will lift this access ban once our requirements are met,” he added, emphasizing the need for compliance with Türkiye’s laws and regulations.

The ban on Instagram was imposed by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) after the platform removed posts by Turkish users mourning Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran.

This action led to the blocking of Instagram access in Türkiye.

Despite meetings between officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and an Instagram delegation, no resolution was initially reached.

Highlighting the importance of adherence to Türkiye’s regulations, Minister Uraloglu expressed optimism about the progress in discussions.

“We will lift this access ban once our requirements are met,” he reiterated.

‘Prioritizing laws’

“Our country has laws and rules. Instagram must comply with them as they operate here,” Uraloglu remarked. He pointed out that Instagram’s actions, like removing posts about Haniyeh, constitute censorship and blocking.

“We prioritize our laws and social sensitivities and will continue to defend them,” the minister added.

Progress in discussions

Uraloglu mentioned significant progress in real-time communication with Instagram. “They will take our sensitivities into account without delay,” he assured, emphasizing responsiveness to citizens’ grievances.

He concluded by noting that while two broad meetings have been held, continuous communication aims to resolve the issue without further meetings.