Bluesky Restricts Access to 72 Accounts in Turkey Following Government Pressure
April 20, 2025
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Bluesky, the decentralized social network positioned as an alternative to X (formerly Twitter), has restricted access to 72 accounts and one post in Turkey, according to a report from the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), as cited by the Stockholm Center for Freedom.
The move marks a notable shift in Bluesky’s previous resistance to government censorship, especially for a platform that has branded itself around free speech and user autonomy.
Legal Orders and Platform Response
Out of the 72 affected accounts:
- 59 were blocked at the internet service provider (ISP) level in Turkey, following court orders.
- 13 accounts and one post were voluntarily made inaccessible by Bluesky itself within Turkey, likely to preempt further legal complications.
Bluesky has not issued a public statement addressing the restrictions.
Turkey’s Escalating Digital Censorship
This action comes amid an ongoing crackdown by Turkish authorities on digital platforms. In recent years, Turkey has:
- Required social platforms to appoint local representatives.
- Demanded swift compliance with content takedown orders.
- Imposed penalties such as fines and bandwidth throttling for non-compliance.
In March 2025, access to 126 X (Twitter) accounts was blocked in Turkey, many of them belonging to independent news outlets and journalists.
Free Speech and Media Landscape
Turkey continues to face widespread criticism for suppressing press freedom. According to Reporters Without Borders, Turkey ranks 158th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
Authorities have employed financial and legal pressure to silence dissent, while regulatory bodies like RTÜK target critical media voices.
The Bigger Picture for Bluesky
Bluesky has been on a growth trajectory, gaining 700,000 new users following the 2024 U.S. election. Despite its decentralized architecture, recent actions show the platform is not immune to national legal pressures, particularly in authoritarian environments.
This raises critical questions about the limits of decentralization, and how even open protocols may be forced to comply with restrictive laws.
As of now, Bluesky has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Source: turkishminute.com
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