Discord blocked in Turkey and Russia over legal compliance issues

Turkey follows Russia's footsteps and blocks Discord

Discord, a major messaging platform, has been blocked in both Turkey^[1] and Russia^[2] due to its refusal to comply with local regulations. Authorities in both countries demanded that Discord remove content they classified as illegal and provide user data. The platform’s refusal led to its restriction. This move reflects an effort by these governments to control digital spaces they view as threats to public security and social order.

Turkey and Russia have enforced these bans for similar reasons, focusing on preventing the spread of content they deem harmful, such as criminal activities or extremist messaging.

By blocking Discord, they aim to set a precedent that foreign platforms must adhere to local laws. This action highlights the rising tension between international tech companies and government controls in specific regions.

Discord’s refusal to cooperate with these governments' demands shows its commitment to user privacy. However, this decision has put the platform in conflict with authorities who seek more oversight and access to user information. The ban serves as a reminder of the challenges digital platforms face in countries with strict content control policies​

Russia banned Discord for refusing to delete the alleged illegal material

In Russia, the decision to block Discord was carried out on October 8, 2024, following repeated warnings and fines issued by Roskomnadzor, the country’s communications regulator. Authorities accused Discord of failing to remove almost 1,000 pieces of content they categorized as illegal, including extremist messaging and drug-related material. Despite multiple opportunities to comply, Discord’s response was seen as insufficient, leading to a complete block. Roskomnadzor said on the national television:^[3]

It was conceived as a platform for gamers, but became an anonymous community for criminals. Child pornography, calls for extremism. This same network is actively used by the drug mafia, including for selling illegal substances to minors.

Russia has a record of blocking Western platforms that do not comply with its legal standards. In past years, services like Facebook and Instagram were also restricted after similar disagreements over content management and data access.

The Russian government argued that these actions were necessary to prevent the spread of harmful information and to control foreign platforms that could be used for activities such as recruitment for extremist causes.

Discord has not made an official statement directly addressing the ban in Russia. The platform has generally maintained that while it works to remove harmful content, it also aims to protect user privacy, even when this results in conflict with national laws. The situation in Russia highlights the growing tension between maintaining an open platform and complying with local regulations that demand extensive oversight

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office blocked Discord due to “crimes of child sexual abuse and obscenity”

Turkey followed Russia’s lead and blocked Discord on October 9, 2024, after a ruling by a court in Ankara. The Turkish government cited the presence of illegal content on the platform, including child abuse material and obscene posts.^[4] Authorities requested user data from Discord to investigate these violations, but the platform refused, leading to the nationwide ban.

Turkish officials framed the decision as a necessary step to protect children and uphold social values. The Justice Minister emphasized that the government would not tolerate digital platforms that fail to comply with laws designed to prevent harm. Turkey has taken similar actions in the past, blocking or restricting access to other platforms like Instagram and Twitter when they refused to align with local regulations.

Discord has yet to issue a statement about Turkey’s ban. However, its usual approach is to protect user data and maintain user privacy, which has repeatedly led to disputes with governments demanding more control.

The ban in Turkey, like in Russia, illustrates the difficulties international platforms face when operating under governments with strict regulatory approaches.