Turkey 'blocks' Onlyfans following complaints
Turkey has blocked the OnlyFans online platform following complaints from the public, Turkey's Freedom of Expression Association reported.
Access to the online subscription platform, which often hosts adult content, was restricted on Wednesday by Istanbul's Criminal Peace Court, the report said.
No official statement has been released on the issue, but Turkish social media users confirmed the restrictions. Users attempting to access the website on Wednesday were met with a warning message that indicated their connection was insecure.
It is not clear whether the ban is temporary or permanent.
OnlyFans was founded in the UK in 2016 and is primarily used by sex workers and adult content creators, in addition to musicians, gamers, and influencers.
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The ban appears to have been placed in response to a complaint submitted to the Presidential Communication Centre (CIMER), according to local media.
The Cumhuriyet newspaper quoted a statement sent to CIMER that described the website as promoting "immoral" acts using "disgusting methods".
"Some users earn more than $10,000 per month from pornographic posts on this platform," the statement reads. "The fluctuating situation in our country's economy impacts society and especially the youth badly, and many people resort to bad ways to earn easy money."
The complaint added that if such platforms were not blocked, then: "Turkish family structure will be eroded and eventually degenerate."
'Not free'
In February, after a devastating earthquake hit southeast Turkey and neighbouring Syria the Turkish government imposed restrictions on Twitter across the country, sparking outcry from campaigners.
In recent years, Ankara has called on social media giants such as Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to appoint local legal representatives in the country or face millions of dollars worth of fines.
The US-funded rights group Freedom House gave Turkey a score of 32 out of 100 in its 2022 index of internet freedom, indicating the internet was "not free".
As evidence, it cited the targeting of independent news outlets and jail sentences for those charged with spreading disinformation.
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