In Turkey, a total of 1,264,506 websites and domain names were blocked by the end of 2024, according to the latest annual report, “Censored Internet” (Engelli Web), published by the Freedom of Expression Association (IFÖD), an Istanbul-based organization that promotes freedom of information.
Despite a landmark ruling by the Turkish Constitutional Court restricting online censorship, the blocking of websites and online content has continued to rise sharply, according to the report.
Systematic censorship as a permanent state of affairs
“The data from 2024 show that censorship is no longer only carried out by political decision-makers, but increasingly also by administrative and judicial authorities in the context of everyday procedures,” according to IFÖD in its analysis. Accordingly, the digital space in Turkey is no longer in a “state of emergency” but is subject to a structurally entrenched censorship regime.
The report documents the development of blocks over the last few years as follows:
▪ 2018: 347,445 domains
▪ 2019: 408,494
▪ 2020: 467,011
▪ 2021: 574,798
▪ 2022: 712,558
▪ 2023: 953,415
▪ 2024: 311,091
According to IFÖD, these blocks were imposed by a total of 852 different institutions and jurisdictions—based on 1,078,348 individual decisions.
Social media content and press portals also affected
In addition to domain blocks, numerous pieces of content on social media were also blocked by the end of 2024. According to the report, the following are affected:
▪ 270,000 URL addresses,
▪ 17,000 Twitter/X accounts,
▪ 75,000 tweets or X posts,
▪ 25,500 YouTube videos,
▪ 16,700 Facebook posts
▪ 16,000 Instagram posts.
According to IFÖD, independent and government-critical media outlets are particularly affected, especially those in the free Kurdish and left-wing press. Numerous domains and accounts belonging to the Mezopotamya, Jin News, and ETHA news agencies, as well as the Yeni Yaşam newspaper, have been blocked or removed, including YouTube and Instagram accounts.
Landmark ruling with no practical consequences
Back in 2021, the Turkish Constitutional Court ruled in a landmark decision that general and uncontrolled internet blocking constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of expression and information. Nevertheless, according to IFÖD, tens of thousands of websites have continued to be blocked since then – in many cases without detailed justification or effective legal protection.
The organization also criticizes the lack of access to transparent information about the basis for the bans and the growing number of decisions by single judges that are not publicly verifiable.