VPN Searches Skyrocket in Turkey after Multiple Social Media Platforms get Banned in Wake of Terrorist Attack

In the aftermath of a violent attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara, Turkey has reportedly restricted access to major social media platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, appears to have led to a broadcast ban from the Turkish government.

Several Turkish officials and local media have described the incident as a “terrorist attack.” According to the mayor of the province where the attack took place, three people were killed and five were injured in the strike.

Images posted to social media showed a large explosion at a facility on the outskirts of Ankara, followed by plumes of smoke.

The Turkish interior minister said in a statement that the strike involved an explosion near the TAI headquarters, followed by gunfire. The facility was evacuated, and ambulances and security forces were dispatched to the scene.

TAI is a major Turkish aerospace and defense company that produces a range of civil and military aircraft, including drones.

The Turkish government has imposed broadcast bans on news of the attack, in an apparent attempt to prevent the spread of information that could incite panic.

The bans are not surprising given the Turkish government’s history of restricting access to social media, particularly in the wake of violent incidents. In the past, Turkey has throttled or blocked access to social media platforms, most notably during a failed coup in 2016.

The new restrictions might not be very effective, though. Turkish users have become adept at circumventing social media blocks using VPNs and DNS changes. The searches for VPNs in Turkey skyrocketed after the social media blocks.