Discord access restricted in Turkey after Russian ban

The move follows scrutiny over user conduct and child safety concerns in the country.

Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash

Key Takeaways

• Turkey's ban on Discord was influenced by similar actions in Russia and concerns over child safety.
• The ban could negatively affect the operational efficiency of crypto projects relying on Discord.

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Turkey has banned Discord, mere hours after Russia’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, blocked the messaging platform due to non-compliance with content regulations.

The ban was first noted by a Reddit user named “coesus0” on October 8. The user claimed that Turkey’s authorities have restricted access to discord.com in the country. Other users also reported that they were not able to access the platform.

Source: r/discordapp

The restriction was later confirmed by NetBlocks, a watchdog organization that monitors cybersecurity and the governance of the Internet. According to NetBlocks, the Turkish ICTA imposed the restriction amid concerns over the platform’s role in facilitating blackmail, doxxing, and bullying.

Source: @netblocks

Earlier reports suggested that certain groups on Discord target children through grooming, blackmail, sexual abuse, and cyberbullying. The Turkish government was said to be considering blocking access to Discord due to these concerns.

In August, Turkey blocked Roblox, another popular platform among children, due to similar allegations.

Discord has become a fundamental communication platform for crypto projects to engage with their community, facilitate collaboration and share insights. Banning Discord in Russia and Turkey would disrupt the critical communication channels of these projects, impairing their ability to operate effectively within the markets.

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