Turkish authorities have restricted access to the popular messaging platform Discord. The decision, announced on Wednesday by Turkey’s Information Technologies and Communication Authority, follows a court ruling in Ankara citing “sufficient suspicion” of crimes related to child sexual abuse and obscenity.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding youth from harmful online content, saying, “We are determined to protect our youth and children from the harmful publications of social media and the internet that constitute crimes.”
The restrictions come in the wake of a recent incident involving the murder of two women by a 19-year-old man, which sparked public outrage when some Discord users were found praising the killings. This event intensified existing concerns about the platform’s role in online bullying, grooming, and blackmail targeting minors.
Prior to the ban, government officials, including Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, had been discussing potential regulatory measures to ensure Discord’s compliance with safety standards. Uraloglu had previously stated that the goal was not to limit access but to protect vulnerable users.
The decision mirrors similar actions taken by Turkish authorities earlier this year when they blocked access to Roblox, another platform popular among children and teenagers, due to allegations of child abuse and grooming.
This development in Turkey follows Russia’s recent ban on Discord for violating national laws.
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