İmamoğlu's YouTube and X Accounts Blocked Over 'National Security'

The social media accounts of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure and presidential candidate, have been subjected to access restrictions. Both his YouTube channel and the X (formerly Twitter) account of his Presidential Campaign Office were blocked, with the official reason cited as "national security and public order."

According to EngelliWeb, which monitors internet access restrictions, the blocking decision has been implemented. However, the YouTube channel, boasting 787,000 subscribers, and the X account, with 222,000 followers, have not yet been made invisible to users within Turkey by the platforms themselves. This suggests a potential lag or technicality in the enforcement of the ban.

This is not an isolated incident for İmamoğlu. Last year, his main X account, which had 9.7 million followers, was also blocked by an Istanbul court order for the same reasons. Social media platforms subsequently made that account inaccessible from Turkey. Numerous other social media accounts opened by İmamoğlu have also faced similar blocking measures based on the same justifications.

The repeated blocking of İmamoğlu's online presence highlights ongoing tensions between the opposition figure and Turkish authorities. The justifications used – national security and public order – are frequently invoked in cases involving dissent or criticism of the government. The situation raises concerns about freedom of expression and the digital space available to political opposition in Turkey.