Türkiye's internet authority has blocked access to Ekşi Sözlük, a popular social network in the country.
An inquiry on the website of the Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK) shows an order for the blocking of the website, but the reason for the decision is not yet clear.
"eksisozluk.com has been blocked by the decision dated 21/02/2023 and numbered 490.05.01.2023.-100029 of Information and Communication Technologies Authority," says the order.
In a statement on its Twitter account, Ekşi Sözlük said, "We do not have information about the details [of the blocking], we are trying to get information from the authorities."
Sedat Kapanoğlu, founder of the platform, tweeted, "Turkish authorities have just cut-off access to @sozluk, the most popular Turkish social platform in the world. It has been used heavily for calls for help and providing relief in the regions affected by the recent earthquakes in Turkey."
Many other social media users made similar criticism, assuming that the website was blocked as part of the government's efforts to curb social media following the devastating earthquakes on February 6.
"People made their voices heard at the time of the earthquake just because of this platform," wrote a Twitter user.
Another one wrote, "Probably, it is the result of the fact that the news that abandoned children who survived the earthquake were handed over to religious communities was first written [on Ekşi Sözlük.]"
"Outright censorship"
Yaman Akdeniz, an academic and a member of the Freedom of Expression Association, said on Twitter that the BTK has the authority to block access to a website for reasons such as protecting national security and public order and protecting children.
However, he said, blocking the site without informing its executives was "unacceptable" and "outright censorship."
"Moreover, Ekşi Sözlük has been implementing the orders sent by the Access Providers Union for years. Doesn't the BTK know whom it should contact? It's a 'I shut it down if I want to' move from the BTK. More platforms will be blocked in the election process," he wrote.
Ekşi Sözlük is frequently implicated by the pro-government media due to its users' posts against the government.
The authorities in Türkiye had also restricted access to Twitter a for hours after the earthquakes that claimed over 42,000 lives in Türkiye's south and southeast.
Over the past decade, the government frequently resorted to social media restrictions at times of crisis, such as bomb attacks or natural disasters. The latest example was the November 13 İstanbul bomb attack, after which all major social media platforms were restricted and dozens of social media users were investigated over their posts.
Ekşi Sözlük, which translates as "Sour Dictionary," was founded in 1999 and is one of the most popular websites in Türkiye. Only approved users are allowed to post messages on the site, the number of which are over 100,000. (VK)