Access restrictions on journalist and institutional accounts on X

New access restrictions have been added to social media accounts in Turkey. The Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) reported that the X accounts of the news platform Kısa Dalga, as well as journalists Hilmi Hacaloğlu and Razi Canikligil, and Başaran Aksu, one of the founders of Umut-Sen, have been blocked from access within Turkey.

According to İFÖD, the account of Veysel Ulusoy, founder of the Inflation Research Group (ENAG), was also blocked under the same scope. The association announced that dozens of other accounts and numerous news reports regarding the fund crisis have also been made invisible on the grounds of "protecting national security and public order."

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS HAVE INCREASED IN RECENT WEEKS

The X account of academic Yaman Akdeniz, one of the founders of İFÖD, was also blocked for the same reason the day before yesterday. In the last two weeks, similar decisions have been taken for the accounts of LGBTI+ associations, organizations, and activists, as well as accounts belonging to various professional organizations, media outlets, journalists, and civil society representatives.

Among the accounts subjected to access restrictions are those of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey, the Federation of Women Associations of Turkey, journalists İrfan Değirmenci, Şirin Payzın, and Dinçer Gökçe, media outlets soL Haber and Evrensel Gazetesi, Amnesty International, Academics for Peace, the Media and Law Studies Association, and economist Uğur Gürses.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reacted to the access restrictions on social media accounts. Stating that "no social media account can be considered a threat to national security due to its political views," Özel called on the X and Instagram platforms.

Inviting the platforms "not to be a part of unfair censorship practices," Özel shared the message, "The Republic of Turkey is greater than any political party."

News Source: 12punto