Why is Instagram silent? When will the platform, which has millions of users in Turkey, take action?

Prof. Dr. Yaman Akdeniz and Kerem Altıparmak from the Freedom of Expression Association have filed a lawsuit at the Ankara 13th Administrative Court to cancel the Information and Communication Technologies Authority's (BTK) decision regarding Instagram. Akdeniz and Altıparmak also requested that the relevant article of the law be sent to the Constitutional Court through an objection. Akdeniz stated, "While Instagram complies with BTK's requests and does not act unlawfully regarding catalog crimes, the blanket access ban applied to Instagram is arbitrary, disproportionate, and unlawful."

In addition to the Freedom of Expression Association, the issue of Instagram was also on the agenda of the parliament.

Members of the TGNA Digital Channels Commission from the CHP, IYI Party, and DEM Party have jointly signed a call for the commission to meet in an extraordinary session to discuss the access ban imposed on Instagram.

The members of the TGNA Digital Channels Commission from the CHP, IYI Party, and DEM Party requested that the commission meet in an extraordinary session on August 8 regarding the access ban imposed on Instagram.

In the application made to the Commission Presidency with the joint signatures of the deputies, it was stated:

“The freedom of digital channels, which play an important role in communication and information sharing, is an indispensable part of democratic societies. The recent blocking of access to the social media platform Instagram has created a situation that directly affects individuals' freedom of communication and right to access information. Our Constitution guarantees everyone's freedom to express and disseminate their thoughts and opinions. Furthermore, international standards and human rights documents recognize the protection of freedom of communication and the non-obstruction of this freedom as a fundamental right. Blocking access to Instagram restricts freedom of expression and the right to share information, thus constituting a situation contrary to democratic values.”

WHY IS INSTAGRAM SILENT

The Freedom of Expression Association has taken steps to end the Instagram ban, which has millions of users in Turkey, by filing a lawsuit and calling for the parliament to meet in an extraordinary session, but the platform itself has not taken action.

A Meta spokesperson said in a statement yesterday (August 5, 2024) regarding the issue, "The blocking of access to Instagram in Turkey means that millions of people are deprived of a method they use for daily communication with their families and friends, and businesses are likewise unable to reach their customers. We will continue to do our best to make our services available again."

Prof. Dr. Yaman Akdeniz from the Freedom of Expression Association made a call to Instagram officials last night (August 5, 2024) while participating in the Kayıt Dışı program with journalist Özlem Gürses on TELE1 television.

Prof. Dr. Yaman Akdeniz argued that the Instagram platform should seek its rights through legal channels for the freedom of expression of its millions of users. Criticizing the platform for remaining silent while its users have taken individual action and are striving to end the Instagram ban by filing lawsuits, Yaman Akdeniz said, "Millions of Instagram users are waiting for a satisfactory explanation."