A Turkish court has recently blocked Twitter and YouTube since it failed to delete contents related to the hostage crisis the previous week. Google has been warned too.
This move marks second time in a year that Turkey blocked social media platforms. The blocking happened when an Istanbul court ordered the United States social media firms, together with Facebook, and other online media to pull down the images, voice records, and videos linking to the hostage crisis. Non-compliance was given a warning of blockage in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Turkish authorities gave back the access to Twitter and YouTube on Monday night. This is due to complying with the warning given earlier. However, in another court order which is directed to Google to remove all the content from its search engine otherwise the internet giant will be blocked.
The alleged contents showed prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz a gun pointed to his head by a masked assailant. Kiraz was evidently taken hostage due to leading an investigation into the 2013 death of a boy case during the time of anti-government protests, according to BBC News.
The two assailants that have taken Kiraz hostage were allegedly members of the leftist DHKP-C party. Kiraz and the gunmen were fatalities in a shoot-out with the law enforcement during an attempt to end the siege.
On Monday evening, all access to the three social media giant websites had been restored as soon as they complied and deleted copies of the image circulating online.