- Account with nearly 10 million followers restricted nationwide
- Legal order cites national securityamid corruption allegations
- Incident follows 22% surge in political censorship cases since 2022
- Opposition plans constitutional challenge to digital restrictions
Turkish authorities have intensified their crackdown on political dissent through digital means, with social media platform X blocking access to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's account nationwide. The restriction comes three months after his controversial imprisonment on charges his supporters claim are politically motivated. This move highlights the growing intersection between judicial processes and digital censorship in the country.
Industry analysts note this follows a regional pattern of internet governance, with Turkey now ranking among the top 15 countries for social media restrictions according to Freedom House data. Unlike Poland's targeted content removal or Hungary's platform licensing requirements, Turkey combines legal pressure with direct platform collaboration - a tactic that saw 48,000 URL takedowns in 2023 alone.
Imamoglu's team has leveraged social media to maintain political momentum, with engagement rates climbing 37% since his detention. Legal experts warn this restriction sets dangerous precedent for opposition campaigns ahead of 2028 elections. The CHP party has already documented 114 similar account restrictions against municipal officials this quarter.
Public response has been immediate, with #DigitalIronCurtain trending nationally. Street protests in Izmir and Ankara drew over 12,000 participants combined, while the Turkish Journalists' Association reports 22% increase in press self-censorship related to digital content. The government maintains these measures prevent information terrorism,though EU observers criticize the vague legal framework.
