A growing number of Turkish social media users are fleeing X (formerly Twitter) for Bluesky following sweeping online censorship imposed in the wake of nationwide protests sparked by the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The initial wave of restrictions began on March 21, two days after İmamoğlu’s detention, when more than 40 youth organizations’ accounts were blocked on X under Article 8/A of Turkey’s controversial Law No. 5651. The law allows authorities to restrict access to content deemed threatening to “national security and public order.” The crackdown quickly expanded to include accounts belonging to women’s rights activists, environmental groups, and animal rights organizations.
Further restrictions followed İmamoğlu’s formal arrest and suspension from office on March 23. On April 2, a website promoting a boycott campaign led by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was blocked by order of the İstanbul 2nd Penal Judgeship of Peace.
X has previously faced criticism for complying with Turkish court orders to restrict access to pro-Kurdish and Gulenist independent media accounts. Critics argue that the platform’s opaque moderation policies, particularly its practice of limiting the visibility of posts containing links, further stifle free expression.
In response to the latest restrictions, X has filed an individual application with Turkey’s Constitutional Court challenging the orders. However, it has not yet enforced bans on hundreds of additional accounts targeted during the protests.
Meanwhile, Bluesky—a decentralized platform spun off from Twitter in 2021—has seen a surge in users from Turkey. The platform, which advocates for algorithmic transparency and user control, has become a haven for journalists, developers, and rights defenders. Yet it too faces legal pressure: according to the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), at least 44 Bluesky accounts have been blocked in Turkey under the same legal provisions. Despite this, Bluesky has not taken any action to enforce the orders, and the accounts remain accessible.
The Turkish government is now moving to further tighten its control over online platforms. A draft amendment reported by the Ekonomim news site would empower the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to restrict access to platforms without a court order. The agency already holds authority to throttle bandwidth during emergencies—a power last exercised on March 19 when major platforms became nearly inaccessible for 42 hours following the mass detention of İstanbul municipal officials.
The draft legislation would also require all platforms with over one million Turkish users to establish a local company and obtain authorization from BTK. Noncompliant companies could face heavy fines, bandwidth throttling of up to 95%, and eventual full access bans.
Observers warn that these moves represent a dramatic escalation in digital authoritarianism. “What we’re witnessing is a comprehensive effort to domesticate global platforms,” said a representative from İFÖD. “The goal is to eliminate online spaces for dissent—whether centralized or decentralized.”
Meanwhile, the crackdown on the press continues. On March 27, Swedish journalist Joakim Medin was detained upon arriving in İstanbul to cover the protests. He now faces charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “insulting the President,” stemming from a disputed protest in Sweden. Journalism advocacy groups have condemned the arrest and called for his immediate release.
