Turkey Expands Online Censorship, Silences Dissent as Erdogan Tightens Grip on Power
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a ceremony for the handover of new vehicles to the gendarmerie and police forces in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 28, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Murad Sezer As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan deepens…
Assessment
Turkey is rapidly closing off digital spaces for dissent, with over 1.5 million websites blocked in 2025 according to a freedom of expression group. The scale of censorship suggests the government is systematically eliminating online platforms that could host criticism. This raises urgent questions about whether any independent digital voice can survive under the current crackdown.