Discord Blocked in Turkey – BRTK Report
The Turkish government has taken a stand against harmful content on social media platforms by blocking access to the messaging and social media application Discord. According to the Turkish Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the blocking of Discord due to evidence of crimes such as “sexual abuse of children and obscenity” being committed on the platform.
Minister Tunç emphasized the importance of protecting young people and children from harmful and criminal content online, stating that the government will not allow any attempts to destabilize society. The Ankara 1st Criminal Court of Peace has decided to remove all publications on Discord and block access to the platform in Turkey.
In a related development, Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya announced that the statements of two children who posted inappropriate content on Telegram and Discord will be taken by the public prosecutor with the assistance of a psychologist. One of the children, identified as BT, was found to have edited criminal videos on Discord, while the other, ADC, shared offensive material on Telegram.
Yerlikaya condemned those who use social media to spread hate, incite violence, and engage in cyberbullying. He assured that the government will take action against individuals who exploit children for their perverse intentions.
The Turkish government’s crackdown on harmful content on social media platforms reflects its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of its citizens, particularly children and young people. Authorities are determined to hold accountable those who violate laws and spread harmful content online.
