Reports from analytics firms or major news outlets covering Discord's user statistics

Russia and Turkey Ban Discord Over Legal Violations and Child Safety Concerns

Oct 8, 2024, 11:06 PM

Russia has banned the instant messaging platform Discord for violating local laws, according to the country's telecom regulator, Roskomnadzor. The ban is attributed to Discord's failure to remove nearly 1,000 items flagged as illegal content, including material related to terrorism and extremism. This move follows similar actions taken against other foreign tech platforms. The restriction has caused significant disruption for Russian military personnel who used Discord to stream drone footage. Shortly after Russia's decision, Turkey also blocked access to Discord, citing concerns over child safety and allegations of cyberbullying, grooming, and other criminal activities targeting minors. Turkey's infotech regulator, ICTA, implemented the ban following a court ruling. Justice Minister Tunç confirmed the decision.