Earthquake: Boom in VPN usage in Turkey after Twitter access restrictions

Proton VPN has seen a surge in new subscribers, confirming the vital role of social media in a crisis.

The earthquake, which occurred a few days ago, caused a humanitarian emergency of such magnitude that the Turkish state is struggling to respond. To silence critics, its leaders have decided to block the social network Twitter, saying they want to limit the proliferation of what they consider to be misinformation.

Twitter blocked for twelve hours

Social media have become essential platforms for information and communication. In contexts such as the one that Turkey is going through, they are even a first-rate tool for organizing relief operations and continuously reporting on the situation on the spot. However, due to the slow deployment of this aid, some Internet users doubt the government’s effectiveness, and even its willingness to intervene on a humanitarian level in certain sensitive areas located on the Syrian border.

In response, in addition to the arrest of a dozen of them, Twitter was blocked for half a day throughout the country. This caused a massive rush on VPN solutions, allowing disaster victims and their loved ones to circumvent restrictions.

Proton claimed to have seen an increase in signups on its VPN service of more than 30,000% at the time of the incident. The Swiss company claims that “ usage is also very high with peaks at several hundred thousand people simultaneously connected before the Twitter ban was lifted. This is currently ten times more than our usual baseline in the country.s”.

Censorship at the expense of victim support

According to the government, this is measures against content likely to harm public order and security “. He had already restricted access to several social networks in 2022 following a deadly explosion in Istanbul. The presidential election in Turkey, which will take place in a few months, suggests that the state could seek to influence the votes by silencing critics, at the risk of harming the organization of relief.

This eagerness to block such communication channels echoes similar censorship carried out in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine, but also during the recent protest movements in Iran and the very controversial presidential elections in Brazil. Social networks have become essential both in the daily life of citizens and in exceptional moments.

Faced with the many scandals that surround them and the restrictions imposed by states with authoritarian tendencies, more and more organizations are campaigning to preserve a freer Internet. As Proton executive Andy Ten comments, “ Maintaining free and uncensored internet access is essential. This is especially true in times of crisis, when individuals rely on online platforms to be able to share information with friends, loved ones and the wider community. “.

Source : BFM TV