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Turkey blocks over 1.5 million websites, expands internet censorship, report finds

A report by the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) documents that Turkish authorities had blocked access to over 1.5 million websites and domain names by end of 2025, through more than 1.28 million court and administrative decisions. The report describes a multilayered censorship system combining court orders, bandwidth throttling, content removals, and platform compliance, increasingly used against opposition groups, journalists, and activists. It notes a significant rise in blocks under Article 8/A of Turkey's internet law between 2024 and 2025, and that Constitutional Court rulings overturning blocks are often ignored by lower courts. The government is also preparing legislation requiring social media users to log in with national ID numbers and regulating VPNs.

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A report by the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) documents that Turkish authorities had blocked access to over 1.5 million websites and domain names by end of 2025, through more than 1.28 million court and administrative decisions. The report describes a multilayered censorship system combining court orders, bandwidth throttling, content removals, and platform compliance, increasingly used against opposition groups, journalists, and activists. It notes a significant rise in blocks under Article 8/A of Turkey's internet law between 2024 and 2025, and that Constitutional Court rulings overturning blocks are often ignored by lower courts. The government is also preparing legislation requiring social media users to log in with national ID numbers and regulating VPNs.

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Turkey advances Steel Dome air defense with Siper missile tests and Aselsan contracts

Background: Italy and Türkiye deepened defense cooperation, with Italy deploying SAMP/T at Konya and Turkey testing its Siper system. Today, Turkey announced major progress in its Steel Dome air and missile defense system, including successful test firings of the Siper-1 and Siper-2 systems. The Siper-1 achieved full operational capability with the Turkish Air Force after destroying a high-speed, highly maneuverable target aircraft. The Siper-2 long-range regional air and missile defense system successfully destroyed a maneuvering target in a separate test conducted by Aselsan, Roketsan, and TÜBITAK SAGE. Aselsan secured over $4 billion in firm orders under the Steel Dome program, including a 780 million euro contract with the SSB, and is building a $1.5 billion production facility in Ankara to double mass production capacity and create 5,000 skilled jobs. Turkey plans to phase out obsolete systems like the MIM-23 Hawk and procure additional Hisar and Siper batteries, while work on Siper-3 for ballistic missile defense is expected to accelerate.

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Background: Italy and Türkiye deepened defense cooperation, with Italy deploying SAMP/T at Konya and Turkey testing its Siper system. Today, Turkey announced major progress in its Steel Dome air and missile defense system, including successful test firings of the Siper-1 and Siper-2 systems. The Siper-1 achieved full operational capability with the Turkish Air Force after destroying a high-speed, highly maneuverable target aircraft. The Siper-2 long-range regional air and missile defense system successfully destroyed a maneuvering target in a separate test conducted by Aselsan, Roketsan, and TÜBITAK SAGE. Aselsan secured over $4 billion in firm orders under the Steel Dome program, including a 780 million euro contract with the SSB, and is building a $1.5 billion production facility in Ankara to double mass production capacity and create 5,000 skilled jobs. Turkey plans to phase out obsolete systems like the MIM-23 Hawk and procure additional Hisar and Siper batteries, while work on Siper-3 for ballistic missile defense is expected to accelerate.