Türkiye won’t ban Tiktok yet, minister reveals

Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, hinted at potential government action against social media platforms during a recent special broadcast. His comments suggested that while a TikTok ban is not imminent, it remains under close watch by Turkish authorities.

“We are not in favor of bans, but rather of freedom,” Minister stated, underlining the government’s approach towards regulating social media platforms like TikTok. However, he also emphasized the need for these platforms to comply with Türkiye’s legal framework, revealing that specific criminal activities have been identified on various platforms, including Instagram.

Minister highlighted that Türkiye has held three large-scale meetings with social media companies to address these concerns. “We have reached a certain point,” he said, suggesting that progress has been made in negotiations. The Minister noted that Türkiye is committed to ensuring that the process does not drag on unnecessarily.

Particularly concerning is Roblox, against which a court ruling has already been issued. Minister mentioned that all legal procedures have been followed, and the Ministry of Justice has provided a comprehensive explanation of the situation. While the current focus is not on TikTok, Minister made it clear that the platform has been notified of the government’s observations.

The Minister also stressed on TRT that social media companies must adhere to Türkiye’s laws and sensitivities, as local representatives for these platforms have now been established. This move is part of a broader effort by the Turkish government to ensure that digital platforms do not operate outside the boundaries of national law.

Although there are no immediate plans to ban TikTok, Minister’s comments reflect an ongoing scrutiny of social media platforms in Türkiye. As the government continues to monitor these platforms closely, further actions may be taken if compliance issues persist.