Turkey restores access to Instagram after ban for nine days

Meta has reportedly agreed to co-operate with Turkish authorities on their concerns

NetBlocks said it saw the Meta-owned social platform being restored on Turkey's internet providers on August 10. EPA

Turkey said on Saturday it had restored access to Meta-owned social media platform Instagram after the company agreed to co-operate with authorities to address the government's concerns.

The National's correspondent in Turkey was able to access Instagram after the move.

Turkey blocked access to the social media platform on August 2 for failing to comply with the country's “laws and rules” and public sensitivities.

A top Turkish official accused Instagram of blocking condolence posts over the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Turkey has denounced Israel's attacks on Gaza, called for an immediate ceasefire and criticised what it calls unconditional support for Israel by the West.

The nine-day ban triggered protests from users and small businesses who reach their customers through the platform.

Turkey ranks fifth in the world in terms of Instagram usage, with more than 57 million users, after India, the US, Brazil and Indonesia, according to data platform Statista.

“As a result of our negotiations with Instagram officials, we will lift the access block … after they promised to work together to meet our demands regarding catalogue crimes and on censorship imposed on users,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on X.

Catalogue crimes in Turkish law include murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, abuse and torture.

“Significant gains have been achieved in increasing security in the digital environment in Turkey, legal compliance, protection of user rights and the development of a fair inspection mechanism,” Mr Uraloglu said.

Instagram's parent company Meta had agreed to comply with Turkish law and ensure efficient removal of posts and content if they carry elements of certain crimes or “terrorism propaganda”, he said.

Internet monitor NetBlocks said that it was seeing Instagram being restored among Turkey's internet providers.

This is the country's longest ban of a major social media platform in recent years,” it said to Reuters.