Turkey has implemented bans on certain Virtual Private Network (VPN) services as part of its broader strategy to control internet access and restrict the flow of information. In December 2023, the Information and Communications Technologies Authority (BTK) blocked access to 16 VPN providers, including popular services like Proton, Surfshark, Ipvanish, and Cyberghost.
The primary motivation behind these bans is to prevent users from circumventing government censorship. VPNs are commonly used to access websites and platforms that the Turkish government has restricted, such as certain news outlets and social media sites. By blocking VPN services, authorities aim to enforce these restrictions more effectively.
The legal basis for these actions stems from an amendment to Law No. 5651 in 2014, which obliges internet service providers to block “alternative access methods” to censored websites. Critics argue that this approach infringes on freedom of communication, as protected by the Turkish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Despite these measures, some VPN providers continue to find ways to operate by introducing new server names and IP addresses. However, the ongoing restrictions contribute to a significant decline in internet freedom within Turkey, which has been increasingly categorized among countries with limited online freedoms.