Instagram ban creates crisis in AKP: 'Why did we just go through this?..'

Instagram, which was blocked by a BTK decision on August 2, was reopened for access in Turkey on August 10 following statements by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.

Gazete Pencere columnist Nuray Babacan claimed that the Instagram ban caused turmoil within the AKP. She stated: “Some executives, who were tearing their hair out behind closed doors due to the damage the ban caused to the economy and the country's image, are lashing out at the Minister of Transport, saying, ‘a problem could only be managed this poorly.’ Among the things being discussed in the corridors are those asking each other, ‘Why did we just go through this?’, incompetent managers who cannot take initiative, those criticizing the ministers, and incompetent politicians trying to draw attention by advocating for new bans by taking advantage of this opportunity.”

Stating that the ban also infuriated the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Trade, Nuray Babacan shared the details: “Do you know that AKP members who say, ‘We are shooting ourselves in the foot…’ cannot even explain the Instagram ban to their own children? Some executives, who were tearing their hair out behind closed doors due to the damage the ban caused to the economy and the country's image, are lashing out at the Minister of Transport, saying, ‘a problem could only be managed this poorly,’” and added:

“The contradictory statements from the Ministry of Transport have further frayed nerves within the party.”

Nuray Babacan’s article titled ‘The bill for the Instagram ban: AKP members tearing their hair out!’ is as follows:

‘We are shooting ourselves in the foot…’ Do you know that AKP members who say this cannot even explain the Instagram ban to their own children? Some executives, who were tearing their hair out behind closed doors due to the damage the ban caused to the economy and the country's image, are lashing out at the Minister of Transport, saying, “a problem could only be managed this poorly.”

THE MARKET IS IN TURMOIL

Among the things being discussed in the corridors are those asking each other, ‘Why did we just go through this?’, incompetent managers who cannot take initiative, those criticizing the ministers, and incompetent politicians trying to draw attention by advocating for new bans by taking advantage of this opportunity.

Before moving on to what happened behind closed doors, it is necessary to point out the authority to block access given to the relevant ministry with the legal regulation made in 2014 regarding the AKP's understanding of managing social media as it wishes. In the following years, many interventions were seen, but none were managed as ineptly as the recent Instagram ban…

NO ONE UNDERSTOOD

Was the failure to publish condolences after Haniyeh's assassination just an excuse? Was there a court order? On what grounds was the application made to the court? Was it true that there was no sorting of catalog crimes? While there were no proper answers to such questions, do you know that the same team that complained the most was the one that triggered the ban, led by Communications Director Fahrettin Altun?

The contradictory statements from the Ministry of Transport have further frayed nerves within the party. First, in the initial meetings between the ministry and Meta executives, insensitivity regarding catalog crimes was cited as the reason. The company accepted the objection regarding the PKK and stated that the necessary sensitivity had been and would be shown for this organization, which is also on the terror list in the US. However, it stated that FETÖ and the YPG were not on their terror lists.

THE FIRST STATEMENT CRISIS

As we have learned, the problem stemmed from the minister using the company's failure to take action regarding FETÖ and the YPG in his public statement. While the AKP administration was preparing to settle for just PKK sensitivity and sweep other issues under the rug, this statement made their job difficult. Because the government continues its relations with many countries in many areas, even though it has not actually declared FETÖ and the YPG as terrorist organizations. The chance for AKP members to pass the buck disappeared with the first statement.

TWO MINISTERS INFURIATED

It is said that the person who first reacted to the damage the ban caused to businesses and the economic losses was the Minister of Tourism. The cost of creating the feeling that they are in a country where Instagram is banned for thousands of foreign tourists coming to Turkey, right in the middle of the tourism season, infuriated the minister. It is said that the advertisements made by spending millions of liras to create an image of a peaceful and free country have gone to waste.

The Minister of Tourism is not the only name reacting to the fact that Turkey is being compared to North Korea, Uganda, and Iran during this process, where tourists could not share a single photo or memory and could not promote Turkey. The other name whose door is constantly knocked on is the Minister of Trade. It is said that there is serious distress in this ministry as well, as small businesses, already struggling with the economic crisis, lost their promotion and marketing opportunities due to this ban.

MONOPOLIES AND BANS

As you can see, events that would make one say “What kind of contradiction is this” are happening in the party. On one hand, there is talk of new social media bans, while on the other, it is said that regulations will be made to protect competition in digital platforms and to allow small businesses to survive. The regulation concerning e-commerce companies in a monopoly position in the Consumer Rights Protection Bill has been postponed again. There are allegations that representatives of a famous company that is in a monopoly position in e-commerce are lobbying in the corridors of the TBMM and even offering money to deputies.

On the other hand, TÜRSAB, arguing that the reason for expensive vacations is the monopolization of tourism agencies, is targeting ETS Tourism Agency, founded by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. ETS, which holds exclusive authorization contracts in approximately 70 percent of resort hotels, has been a major problem for small business owners in the sector for a long time. While social media bans are on one side, monopolies trying to come out ahead on the other are drawing great reaction. It is unknown if the situation will change, but the market is quite in turmoil…

News Source: 12punto