Turkey might be a beautiful, historic destination for tourists. However, the country’s virtual environment does not offer the freedom that its pristine blue waters promise.
Indeed, over 245 thousand websites, including Facebook and Wikipedia, were blocked by the Turkish government between 2014 and 2018. This is just one example of the many websites and online services that have been blocked by the government over the years. In such cases, you should use a virtual private network, or VPN, to get around internet censorship.
With the aid of this service, you can circumvent blocked access to websites and take advantage of all the liberties you might take for granted at home, even when using Turkey’s otherwise constrictive connections.
We have the information you need right here. So what websites are blocked in the nation and why? And which Turkey VPN should you pick specifically?
Turkey a nation straddling both Asia and Europe boasts a unique geographic position. Its location has played a pivotal role in shaping its history, culture, and geopolitical significance. But how close is Turkey to Russia, and what implications does their proximity have?
Geographic Proximity:
Turkey and Russia share a land border of approximately 378 miles (608 kilometers) in the Caucasus region. This border stretches from the Black Sea coast in the west to the tripoint with Georgia and Armenia in the east. Additionally, the two countries are separated by the Black Sea, with a distance of about 150 miles (240 kilometers) at its narrowest point.
Historical and Cultural Ties:
Despite their geographic proximity, Turkey and Russia have a complex and often tumultuous history. The Ottoman Empire, which ruled over much of the region for centuries, engaged in numerous wars with Russia, vying for control of territory and influence. In the 20th century, the two countries were on opposing sides of the Cold War, with Turkey aligning with the West and Russia (then the Soviet Union) leading the Eastern Bloc.
However, despite these historical tensions, there have also been periods of cooperation and cultural exchange between Turkey and Russia. Both countries are home to diverse populations with rich cultural heritages. In recent years, there have been efforts to improve relations and foster economic partnerships between the two nations.
Geopolitical Implications:
Turkey’s proximity to Russia has significant geopolitical implications. The two countries are key players in the Black Sea region, with Russia maintaining a strong naval presence and Turkey controlling the strategically important Turkish Straits. Additionally, both countries have interests in the Caucasus and the Middle East, leading to potential areas of cooperation and competition.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has further complicated the relationship between Turkey and Russia. Turkey has condemned Russia’s invasion and provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, while also maintaining close economic ties with Russia and attempting to play a mediating role in the conflict.
Turkey’s location near Russia has shaped its history, culture, and geopolitical landscape. While the two countries have a complex relationship marked by both cooperation and conflict, their proximity ensures that they will continue to play a significant role in shaping the region’s future.
Additional Information:
- Turkey and Russia are both members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
- The two countries have established a High-Level Cooperation Council to promote dialogue and cooperation on various issues.
- Turkey is a major importer of Russian natural gas, and Russia is a significant market for Turkish exports.
- The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization includes both Turkey and Russia as members.
Further Exploration:
- The website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/
- The website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.mid.ru/en/
- The website of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization: https://www.bsec-organization.org/
Why does Turkey restrict access to so many services?
When it comes to social media censorship, Turkey is one of the world leaders. This indicates that access to websites such as Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter was previously prohibited within the nation. This happens intermittently, especially in times of political unrest.
For instance, according to online rights activist Sevket Uyanik, Turkey blocked access to 408,000 websites, 40,000 tweets, 10,000 YouTube videos, and 6,200 Facebook shares in 2019.
The blocking is a component of the nation’s 2007 Internet Act revision, which it expanded upon in February 2014. This meant the Turkish government passed an omnibus law that further impacted internet freedoms. As a result the country is now classed by the Freedom House index as “Not Free”.
In 2021 the government introduced another law to push this even further. According to recent internet legislation, social media companies that have over a million daily users, such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, must designate a local representative to carry out court orders requiring the removal of certain content. Additionally, it compels these businesses to use data localization techniques, which means they have to keep user data in Turkey.
The reason behind these restrictive laws? The country says its trying to fight internet crime and determine liability. Regretfully, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to witness outright prohibitions in the future (much like the Great Firewall of China).
Which services are banned in Turkey?
Turkey has blocked 130 news and social media websites over the years, including Bianet, one of the few independent news sites still operating in the nation. org. Additionally, a lot of individual content has been blocked from websites, so even if the site is accessible, the truth may not be presented as clearly as intended.
As mentioned before all the big social media platforms have been blocked at some point. These include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and Periscope. Additionally, you might find it difficult to use online resources like DropBox file sharing and Google Docs, Translate, Books, Analytics, or Tools.
Even the likes of Wikipedia, Wikileaks, Blogspot and WordPress have been banned. Along with more dubious sites like YouPorn, The Pirate Bay and Megaupload. Even video-sharing websites like Vimeo, YouTube, and Metacafe have been blocked, along with music-sharing website Deezer and movie reviews website IMDB.
Of course, this list will be in flux as these bans are constantly changing. To check if certain content or site is active, there are websites available which will help you to facilitate this.
Ban Things from Different Countries | Things banned around the world
FAQ
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Does Turkey have social media censorship?
When it comes to social media censorship, Turkey is one of the world leaders. That means access to the likes of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Wikipedia has previously been blocked inside the country. This happens intermittently, especially in times of political unrest.
How many websites have been banned in Turkey?
The report, entitled ‘Disabled Web 2020: Fahrenheit 5651, The Corrosive Effect of Censorship’, says that more than 467,000 websites have been banned in Turkey since 2006, with 58,809 website bans in 2020.
How many Facebook posts have been banned in Turkey?
Since 2006, the Turkish authorities have also banned access to 150,000 URLs, 7,500 Twitter accounts, 12,000 YouTube videos, 8,000 Facebook posts and 6,800 Instagram posts, according to the report. In 2020 alone, 15,832 news articles were ordered to be removed from media webpages, the majority of them critical of Erdogan’s government.
Does Turkey have a social media law?
Erdogan has demanded the law, vowing to “control social media platforms” and eradicate immorality. Twitter did not respond to a request for comment. Turkey leads the world in legal requests to Twitter for content removal, with more than 6,000 demands in the first half of 2019, according to the company’s most recent transparency report.