On Saturday, Turkey announced it had restored access to Instagram after a nine-day block, which was imposed due to the platform’s alleged non-compliance with Turkish laws and public sensitivities.
The block, which began on August 2, followed accusations that Instagram had removed condolence posts related to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Turkey has criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and condemned Western support for Israel, which fueled the demand for Instagram’s compliance.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed that the ban was lifted after Instagram agreed to work with Turkish authorities to address concerns about content removal related to catalog crimes, including terrorism propaganda.
Turkey, which ranks fifth globally in Instagram usage with over 57 million users, has seen protests from users and businesses affected by the block. Internet monitor NetBlocks reported that the restoration of access marks the longest ban on a major social media platform in Turkey in recent years.
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