Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sparked controversy by accusing social media networks of “fascism” and censorship, amid a battle with Instagram that has seen the platform blocked in the country for four days. The Turkish government’s decision to block Instagram reportedly came after the platform removed posts from Turkish users expressing condolences for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Erdogan’s criticism of social media platforms comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression in Turkey. Critics argue that the government’s actions are a thinly-veiled attempt to control the flow of information and silence voices that oppose the ruling party.
The ongoing battle with Instagram highlights the increasingly fraught relationship between governments and social media companies, as platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram grapple with how to balance free speech with the need to regulate harmful content.
Erdogan’s rhetoric accusing social media of “fascism” is likely to further fuel concerns about the erosion of democratic norms in Turkey. The international community will be closely watching how the situation unfolds and whether Erdogan’s government will continue to restrict access to social media platforms in the name of combating “censorship.”
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Video “Turkish president slams social media ‘fascism’ amid Instagram battle • FRANCE 24 English” was uploaded on 08/07/2024 to Youtube Channel FRANCE 24 English