Turkey Twitter Blocked: Social Media Reacts, Finds Ways Around Turkish Twitter Block

On Thursday, just a week before local elections, Turkey blocked access to social media platform Twitter Inc. (NYSE:TWTR), hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a speech vowing to “eradicate” Twitter.

Despite Erdogan’s speech claiming that the ban was done through a court order, critics say the Twitter block was a response to a leaked recording that purportedly revealed corruption within the Turkish government.

Social media users around the globe loudly criticized the move, including even Erdogan's ally Turkish President Abdullah Gül -- on Twitter:

Rough translation: “As violating the secrecy of the private lives of people if there are criminal matters, but only by a court decision related pages can be turned off.”

President Gül followed up with this Tweet as well:

Rough translation: “Hopefully this application will not last long.”

Elsewhere, world leaders denounced the move, including European Union Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes:

Twitter users around the world denounced the move by the Turkish government as well, using the hashtag “#TwitterisblockedinTurkey.”

Despite the Turkish Twitter ban, social media users in Turkey have been using creative means to get around the ban. Twitter itself is providing tweet capability via text messaging to get around the Twitter block.

Others have been using alternative domain name system servers such as OpenDNS to get around the block.

It’s unknown at this time if or when the Twitter ban will be lifted. However, it’s clear that the Turkish people are using any means necessary to make their voices heard.