Turkey: Over 1,270 X accounts blocked in September

At least 1,270 X accounts were blocked in Turkey during September 2026, according to a study by the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) through its EngelliWeb project. Approximately 90 percent of these accounts were made invisible to users in Turkey by the platform X.

The number of bans in September alone exceeded the total of 995 accounts blocked throughout 2025 under Article 8/A of Internet Law No. 5651. A significant surge occurred in the latter half of the month, accounting for 941 of the total bans. Among the 1,227 accounts with available follower data, the collective reach exceeded 35 million followers, including several accounts with more than 500,000 followers.

The restrictions targeted a wide range of actors, including journalists, news agencies, academics, economists, and human rights organizations. Specifically, accounts related to LGBT+ rights, women's rights, and various political or religious groups were affected. X stated that the actions were taken following decisions communicated by the Cyber Security Presidency (SGB) based on Law No. 5651, though specific details were not provided to İFÖD.

Additionally, the EngelliWeb X account, which has documented access restrictions since 2008, was also made invisible in Turkey on October 1.