Security News > 2022 > November > Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube suspended in Turkey after blast
Following yesterday's deadly blast on İstiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Turkish authorities began restricting access to social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Telegram as a nationwide broadcast ban went into effect.
Reports of a bomb blast taking place on Istanbul's busy İstiklal street began circulating on Sunday, November 13th on social media platforms.
Sources based in Turkey shared with BleepingComputer that they were unable to access social media apps restricting flow of updates and information concerning the incident.
After analyzing network traffic, internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed that a widespread social media restriction was in effect across the nation, although access is being restored as of this morning.
"Real-time NetBlocks metrics show that social media and communications platforms Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and some Telegram servers were restricted from Sunday afternoon," stated NetBlocks.
The law, which has been sharply criticized, penalizes social media users and journalists for spreading "Fake news." Anyone found guilty of spreading false information to "Create fear and disturb public order" in Turkey faces up to three years in prison.