The BTK communications authority released a statement on Wednesday, officially blocking access to the popular messaging platform Discord in Turkey.
Ankara court’s ruling justified the ban, citing suspected criminal activity, including child sexual abuse and obscenity, allegedly facilitated by some platform users.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc explained the reasoning behind the court’s decision, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting young people from online harm.
In a statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), he said, “We are determined to protect our young people and our children from harmful and criminal publications on social media and the internet.
Context Behind the Ban
The move to block Discord comes after public outcry over the killing of two women in Istanbul by a 19-year-old man. According to reports, some users on Discord allegedly praised the killings, sparking further outrage and concern about the platform’s role in allowing such content to spread.
The platform’s popularity, especially among gamers, along with its wide reach—boasting over 150 million users worldwide—has made it difficult for authorities to effectively monitor for criminal activity.
Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, expressed frustration over the regulatory challenges faced by Discord, stating, “We had to block access because Discord refused to share its own information, including IP addresses and content, with our security units.
Broader Efforts to Regulate Online Platforms
Turkey’s recent block on Discord is part of a broader effort to clamp down on social media platforms and online services deemed harmful.
In August, Turkish authorities also banned access to Roblox, a popular video game platform, citing concerns over content that was potentially harmful to children. Earlier this year, the country temporarily blocked Instagram.
Discord, which is based in San Francisco, has acknowledged the issue, stating in a status update, “We are aware of reports of Discord being unreachable in Russia and Turkey.
Our team is investigating these reports at this time.” Russia also banned Discord on Tuesday, citing the need to prevent its telecom watchdog from using the platform for “terrorist and extremist purposes.
What is Discord?
Discord is a social media platform that allows users to communicate via text, audio, and video. Initially gaining popularity among video game enthusiasts, Discord now serves a wide range of communities, including businesses using it as an internal messaging system. Its appeal lies in its simplicity, offering users a free and easy-to-navigate space for communication.
The block on Discord in Turkey underscores the government’s ongoing concerns about the dangers posed by unregulated online platforms.
As platforms like Discord and Roblox grow in popularity, governments around the world are increasingly grappling with how to balance free communication with the need to protect their citizens from harmful content. The situation remains fluid, with Discord’s team currently investigating both Turkey and Russia.
The Information is Collected from MSN and AOL.
