(Bloomberg) -- Turkey blocked the social media platform Discord after a court cited concerns over its use by groups involved in child abuse, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.
The ban followed posts on the platform that praised a young man who killed two young women earlier this month. The incident sparked outrage across social media in the country and renewed calls for stricter regulation.
Turkey has a history of swiftly restricting access to websites, previously blocking platforms like X, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. That’s led to tensions between the US tech companies and the government, which has demanded the removal of some content and the appointment of local representatives.
Discord, an instant-messaging app favored by video gamers, wasn’t immediately available for comment.
The restriction follows a similar move by Russia this week, as governments worldwide increase scrutiny of digital platforms over safety concerns.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday the detention of two children for posts on Discord and Telegram involving “criminal” videos and offensive content.
In August, Turkey also blocked the gaming platform Roblox Corp. due to child safety concerns. Roblox’s shares slumped Tuesday after short-seller Hindenburg Research said that the company has inflated key metrics and alleged that it doesn’t have sufficient safety screens to prevent pedophiles from using the site.
(Updates throughout with background information, interior minister statement.)
©2024 Bloomberg L.P.