Access to several major online platforms—including X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp—has been restricted across multiple networks in Turkey, according to NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization. The disruptions began late Sunday and coincide with rising political unrest following calls for public rallies by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The restrictions appear to be linked to protests sparked by a recent court ruling that removed CHP leadership in Istanbul and replaced them with government-appointed trustees. Police barricades were reportedly set up around the party’s headquarters, prompting widespread calls for demonstrations.
Turkey’s Access Providers Union, responsible for enforcing internet blocking decisions, has not issued a formal statement. Rights groups and digital freedom advocates have raised concerns over the recurring use of bandwidth throttling and platform restrictions during politically sensitive periods.
There is currently no official timeline for the restoration of full access, and users across Turkey have increasingly turned to VPN services to bypass the blocks. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between digital freedoms and state control in the country’s evolving political landscape.
Turkey parliament picture
