Her decision Turkey to prevent access to Twitter around 12 noon, from yesterday evening Wednesday until early Thursday morning, when people tried to find their loved ones after catastrophic earthquakesprovoked public outrage at the pace of the government’s response.

Opposition leaders and social media users have criticized the blocking of access to a platform that helps people share information about the arrival of aid and the whereabouts of those still trapped under rubble after Monday’s earthquake.

presidential government Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blocked access to social media in the past and has focused in recent months on fightingdisinformation“, as he characterizes her, which led to yesterday’s exclusion.

Full access to Twitter was restored early this morning as the earthquake death toll in Turkey and neighboring Syria exceeded 17 500.

The Erdogan government “has gone mad, and… as a result, the cries for help have become less audible. We know everything you are trying to hide,” said the CHP official opposition leader. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, after the blockade was imposed yesterday afternoon.

A government spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said traffic had been temporarily suspended. real calls for helpbut this action was taken quickly and the service returned to normal operation.

“This had to be done because some of the accounts had false statements, slander, insults and posts with fraudulent intent,” the official told Reuters, citing attempts to steal money under the guise of fundraising.

Turkish officials held talks with Twitter management yesterday and said they expect cooperation to combat disinformation during relief operations, the transport minister said. Omer Fatih Sayan.

director of public relations for Erdogan, Fahrettin Altunsaid Twitter management was cooperative at the meeting and pledged to support Turkey’s efforts, and that officials look forward to cooperating with it “in the coming days and weeks.”

“Disinformation is the common enemy of humanity and a serious threat to democracy, social peace and national security,” Altun tweeted today.

Last October, Turkey’s parliament passed a law that would face up to three years in prison for journalists and social media users for spreading “disinformation,” raising concerns from human rights groups and European countries about free speech.

Erdogan’s ruling party argued that a law was needed to crack down on false accusations on social media that would not silence the opposition. The issue is becoming increasingly important in connection with the elections scheduled for 14 May.

A Reuters investigation last summer showed how mainstream media outlets have been reduced to a rigid command hierarchy with government-approved names, while smaller independent and opposition media outlets face the brunt of regulatory sanctions.

The ban on Twitter also drew an angry reaction from the leader of the opposition party DEVA, Ali Babajanformer Minister of Economy and ally of Erdogan.

“How can you block access to Twitter on a day when communication saves lives? What kind of ignorance is this,” Babajan said late last night.

The pro-Kurdish HDP party said Twitter played a critical role in organizing aid for earthquake victims and that blocking access to social media would lead to more deaths.

Reuters