Turkey blocks access to widely followed food safety platform’s social media accounts

Turkish authorities have blocked access to the widely followed food safety platform Gıda Dedektifi (“Food Detective”) across nearly all major online platforms, including Instagram, YouTube and mobile app stores.

The platform’s X account, which had over 814,000 followers, became inaccessible in Turkey on Monday, according to censorship watchdog EngelliWeb, following an earlier court decision that ordered the blocking of its website and other associated digital properties.

The full-scale ban includes the platform’s website (gidadedektifi.com), Instagram account with 2 million followers, YouTube channel with 707,000 subscribers, mobile applications on both the Apple Store and Google Play and additional affiliated accounts such as Inside Eat Türkiye, Gıda Ajansı and personal accounts belonging to founder Musa Özsoy.

The censorship was initiated under a ruling issued on May 29 by İstanbul’s 6th Criminal Court of Peace, a court that often issues swift content removal and access blocking orders, frequently citing national security, defamation or public order justifications.

While no public justification has been officially disclosed, the crackdown comes amid increasing pressure from Turkey’s powerful food industry, particularly after Gıda Dedektifi’s posts went viral for criticizing the nutritional quality and ingredient transparency of widely consumed processed foods.

The platform had gained popularity for analyzing food labels, exposing misleading marketing claims and informing consumers — especially parents — about high sugar and additive content in products marketed to children.

Gıda Dedektifi describes its mission as “raising public awareness about food safety and transparency,” often posting product analyses backed by scientific and regulatory references. It has also criticized regulatory agencies and manufacturers for what it sees as lax oversight or harmful industry practices.

Founder Musa Özsoy, a food safety expert and prominent online figure in Turkey, has said in past interviews that his goal is to “educate consumers so they can make informed decisions” and that he has faced pushback from large companies in the sector.

The sweeping ban on Gıda Dedektifi and related accounts highlights growing concerns over Turkey’s expanding online censorship regime, especially under Law No. 5651, which gives judges the authority to block content and platforms on vague grounds such as protecting public order or preventing crime.

Digital rights groups, including EngelliWeb and the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), have repeatedly warned that the government is increasingly using this legal framework to silence critics — not only in political or journalistic spheres, but also in civil society and consumer advocacy.

According to a statement by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in May, more than 27,000 social media accounts were blocked in the first four months of 2025 alone, a significant number of which included platforms run by journalists, activists, or independent information outlets.

Gıda Dedektifi is not a political organization, but its growing influence and reach — especially among middle-class families concerned about health and nutrition — may have made it a target for industries and regulators uncomfortable with its critical messaging.