The Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) in Turkey often places bands on communication services like Twitter, Blogspot, WordPress, and Facebook in an attempt to eliminate information that portrays Turkish authorities negatively. Bands tend to increase during times of political unrest, extending to restrictions on video services like YouTube and Vimeo and file-sharing sites like The Pirate Bay.
Many supporters of open internet have concerns about the level of control the government has over which content citizens can access. The primary concern is a lack of free speech, as blocks are more common for news outlets and other media websites that portray Turkish leaders in a non-flattering light.
ITCA regulations also require ISPs to keep all client web traffic for a minimum of one year and make the information readily available on request. A reliable VPN is critical for bypassing network restrictions and helping users in Turkey safeguard their data.