Instagram blocks LGBT accounts in Turkey citing national security

Instagram has restricted access for users in Turkey to the account of Turkish LGBT media organisation Kaos GL and several other LGBT-related pages. Meta cited court orders issued on grounds of “national security and the protection of public order.”

According to Kaos GL , the accounts of Istanbul Pride Week, Istanbul Trans Pride Week, Ankara Pride and Izmir Pride were also made inaccessible within Turkey. The platform noted that the affected accounts remain visible from outside the country.

Kaos GL is an LGBT media platform and civil society organisation operating in Turkey. Its editor-in-chief Yıldız Tar has been in custody since 25 June on charges of links to a terrorist organisation.

During the same period, accounts on X and Instagram belonging to LGBT associations, journalists and human rights defenders were blocked or restricted. Access to the website kaosgl.org had previously been blocked as well.