Turkish authorities blocked access to at least 2,137 accounts on social media platform X in September and October, including those of journalists, news outlets and political parties, according to a freedom of expression group.
The Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) documented at least 867 accounts blocked in October, following 1,270 in September, through its EngelliWeb project, which monitors internet censorship in Turkey.
The association said the two-month tally was nearly half of the more than 4,800 X accounts it had documented as blocked under Article 8/A of Turkey’s internet law during the entire 2015-2025 period.
Accounts affected in October included those of the Halk TV broadcaster, the independent T24 news website and the opposition Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP). The 795 accounts for which follower information was available had a combined follower count exceeding 21.5 million, according to the association.
In its statement İFÖD said authorities were also targeting replacement accounts and accounts whose usernames had been changed, extending restrictions beyond individual posts to the social media presence of people and organizations.
T24’s account, with 1.9 million followers, was blocked again October 2 after its username was changed following a September restriction. Halk TV’s account, with 3 million followers, was blocked October 14 and made unavailable under a changed username on October 21. Journalist Alican Uludağ’s newly opened account was also blocked, the group said.
The organizations documenting the restrictions were themselves affected. İFÖD said its X account was blocked October 5 but that the decision had not been shared with it.
EngelliWeb’s account was covered by a September 30 order from an İstanbul court targeting more than 100 accounts, including journalists and the Bianet news website. The court cited concerns that posts could disrupt public order and encourage crime, according to the association.
The October restrictions were imposed under Articles 8 and 8/A of Turkey’s internet law No. 5651. Article 8/A allows expedited content removal or access restrictions on grounds including national security, public order and preventing crime.
X enforces country-specific legal restrictions by withholding accounts or posts from users in the affected country. Such content remains accessible elsewhere, according to the platform’s policy.
İFÖD said appeals against restrictions on EngelliWeb, Bianet and freedom of expression advocate Yaman Akdeniz had been rejected. It had filed an application with the Constitutional Court concerning Akdeniz’s account and planned applications for EngelliWeb and Bianet in early November.
The association urged an end to blanket restrictions on accounts and websites and called for blocking decisions to be disclosed with their reasoning. It cited a 2023 Constitutional Court ruling that found Article 8/A lacked adequate safeguards against arbitrary interference.
