Erdogan Blasts Instagram: Accusations of 'Digital Fascism'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused social media platforms on Monday of perpetuating 'digital fascism' by censoring photographs depicting Palestinian 'martyrs.' His remarks come amidst ongoing dialogue between Turkish officials and social media giant Instagram aimed at restoring platform access to millions of Turkish users.

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority has blocked Instagram access since August 2, citing the platform's failure to meet Turkish regulations. Many media outlets report the ban was a reaction to Instagram removing posts expressing condolences over the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, highlighting Turkey's history of online censorship.

'They cannot even tolerate photographs of Palestinian martyrs and immediately ban them,' Erdogan stated at a human rights event. He further condemned what he termed as 'digital fascism' under the guise of freedom. Unlike its Western allies, Turkey recognizes Hamas as a liberation movement rather than a terrorist organization.

Transportation and infrastructure minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu revealed that Turkish officials recently engaged in discussions with Meta-owned Instagram and were holding further talks to resolve the matter. Instagram has a significant presence in Turkey, with over 57 million users in the country of 85 million. The platform generates substantial e-commerce revenue, estimated at 930 million Turkish lira (USD 27 million) daily, according to the Electronic Commerce Operators' Association.

(With inputs from agencies.)