Turkish courts have blocked access to 767 game pages on the Steam online gaming platform, more than tripling the total in about a month, the Diken news website reported on Wednesday, citing research by the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD).
The association’s EngelliWeb project, which monitors internet censorship in Turkey, documented an increase from 255 blocked pages in its September 25 review. Its first review, published August 27, identified 45 blocked pages.
The court orders restrict access to individual games’ pages. Steam itself has not hidden the titles from users in Turkey, the association said.
Nearly all the games affected — 762, or 99.3 percent — carry at least one of Steam’s mature-content classifications. Five have no such classification.
Among the titles involved, 725 are classified as containing adult-only sexual content, while 92 feature frequent violence or gore. The categories overlap because games can carry multiple classifications.
The researchers also found that 198 games affected carried an LGBTQ-related tag assigned by Steam users. The association’s announcement did not specify the legal grounds for the individual blocking orders.
Steam already displays content warnings before users open pages for games in mature-content categories when the relevant filtering settings are enabled, the association said.
The expanding restrictions come amid a broader crackdown on online expression in Turkey, including measures justified as protecting children and the family. Human Rights Watch and 20 other organizations warned in an October 12 statement that authorities were using blocking orders to suppress independent media and violate freedom of expression.
The groups cited the blocking of the T24 independent news website and its X account after a court claimed its reporting undermined the institution of the family and could harm minors’ development concerning sexual orientation and gender identity. They said the order failed to explain why blocking the entire outlet was necessary or proportionate.
Authorities and courts ordered restrictions on at least 1,270 X accounts in September alone, including those of journalists, news outlets and rights organizations, according to İFÖD figures cited in the statement. Many restrictions formed part of a crackdown on LGBTQ rights advocates; others cited national security and the public order.
The Steam restrictions also precede new requirements for gaming platforms taking effect November 1. Foreign platforms with more than 100,000 daily accesses from Turkey will have to appoint a local representative responsible for ensuring compliance with official notices and requests, according to İFÖD.
The rules also require age classifications and parental controls. Failure to comply can ultimately lead to court-ordered reductions in internet bandwidth of up to 50 percent, slowing access to a platform.
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, an organization that monitors laws affecting civic freedoms, has warned that the broader regulatory package raises concerns about disproportionate restrictions on expression, privacy and access to lawful content.
