Turkey Permanently Bans Discord – Here is Why
The Turkish Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BKT) has permanently banned the popular messaging platform Discord from operating in Turkey.
The decision was made by the Ankara 1st Peace Court, which cited reasons such as child exploitation, harassment, blackmail, and crimes involving cryptocurrency as the basis for the ban. This move was officially announced on the BKT website.
The ban comes in the wake of a judicial investigation launched by Turkish authorities into criminal activities on social media, specifically targeting Discord and Telegram. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s cabinet, led the investigation and stressed that any platform failing to comply with the new regulations would face sanctions, including bandwidth restrictions.
Tunc emphasized the decision to ban Discord was made to safeguard children from harmful online content. In a public statement, he reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the younger generation from the dangers of social media, stating that they would not tolerate threats to the country’s social fabric.
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The ban followed an incident that sparked public outrage—a 19-year-old man in Istanbul murdered two women, and the crime was linked to violent discussions on Discord. Investigators revealed that users on the platform engaged in conversations about murder and other illegal acts, some of which were passed off as “dark humor.” Additionally, the investigation uncovered that some individuals were using Discord to blackmail others, profiting from illicit visual content.
Discord has faced similar bans in other countries, including Russia, China, Iran, the UAE, and Oman. While widely popular among gamers and crypto enthusiasts, the platform has come under scrutiny globally for safety concerns. In the United States, Discord’s CEO, Jason Citron, was questioned by U.S. senators last year, alongside other social media executives, regarding the protection of children from online abuse.
Alexander Stefanov
Reporter at CoinsPress
Alex is an experienced finance journalist and a cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiast. With over five years of experience covering the industry, he deeply understands the complex and constantly evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His passionate approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and insightful content. Follow up on his content to be up to date with the most important trends and topics - stay ahead of the curve with CoinsPress.
