Blanket Access Blocks on Social Media Accounts and Constitutional Court Rulings
In light of Constitutional Court jurisprudence and new legislative regulations, the legal boundaries of access bans applied to entire social media accounts are being evaluated.
Blocking access to an entire social media account solely due to a single piece of content constitutes a severe interference with freedom of expression. Constitutional Court rulings and new legal regulations are redefining the balance between the scope of measures and the principle of proportionality.
The Principle of Proportionality in Access Blocks
Blocking access to an entire social media account is not considered lawful even when only a single post on that account is found to be unlawful. According to Constitutional Court rulings, blanket blocking targeting an entire platform undermines freedom of expression.
The Importance of the Yaman Akdeniz Ruling
The legal milestone on this issue is the Constitutional Court's ruling on the application by Yaman Akdeniz and Others. If the problematic content is specific and separable, the measure should remain limited to that content rather than closing down the entire account.
Law No. 5651 and the 11th Judicial Package
The relevant provision of Law No. 5651 regulating publications on the internet was annulled, and this legal vacuum was filled by Law No. 7571 published in the Official Gazette dated December 25, 2025. The new regulation imposes an obligation on judges to provide concrete justifications.
Legal Remedies Users Should Follow
In the event of facing an access block, users need to clarify the rationale upon which the decision is based, evaluate the scope of the measure, and appeal within the prescribed timeframe. When domestic legal remedies are exhausted, the right to individual application can be considered.