Discord reacts after being banned in Russia and Turkey

Hot on the heels of the X ban being lifted in Brazil, Discord, the popular messaging platform for gamers and communities, has hit a snag in Russia and Turkey. Both nations have pulled the plug on the app, leaving users in the lurch and the company scrambling to figure out what went wrong. So, why did two major countries suddenly ban Discord, and how is the company reacting?

Russia made the first move, announcing on October 8 that Discord would be banned for failing to remove extremist content. Russia’s telecom watchdog, Roskomnadzor, claimed the platform could be used for “terrorist and extremist purposes.” This isn’t Russia’s first digital rodeo. The country has been pressuring foreign tech companies for years, demanding compliance with censorship laws. Discord is just the latest platform to face the crackdown, following in the footsteps of Facebook, Instagram, and X, which have all been blocked since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Interestingly, Discord had also found a niche use among Russian soldiers, who used the app to coordinate battlefield operations in Ukraine. This ban left many military users frustrated. Military bloggers and soldiers alike criticized the government’s sudden decision, calling out the lack of a reliable alternative for communication.

In Turkey, the block came swiftly afterward, with authorities citing concerns over criminal activity, particularly in relation to child sexual abuse and obscenity. The ban was triggered by public outrage following a tragic murder case in Istanbul, where some Discord users reportedly praised the killings. Turkey’s Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc was quick to defend the decision, stating that the country must protect its youth from “harmful and criminal publications.”

Discord’s response has been measured, but telling. The San Francisco-based company issued a status update on October 8: “We are aware of reports of Discord being unreachable in Russia and Turkey. Our team is investigating these reports at this time.” Behind the calm tone, though, lies a complex issue. Discord has historically resisted government requests for user data, and in both Russia and Turkey, that stance has put the company in a tough spot.

While both governments have framed the bans as measures to combat crime, the bigger issue at play is control. Russia has been working for years to create a “sovereign internet,” free from Western influence. Discord’s refusal to comply with Russian censorship laws made it a prime target for a ban.

In Turkey, the focus is more on criminal activity, but it’s also about maintaining control over digital spaces. Authorities have grown increasingly aggressive in their demands for tech companies to share user data, and platforms that refuse, like Discord, face the consequences.

The bans have left millions of Discord users in both countries cut off from their communities. Gamers, students, professionals, and even soldiers have been affected. While some are turning to VPNs to get around the restrictions, many are simply left in the dark.

For now, Discord’s future in Russia and Turkey remains uncertain. The platform’s refusal to compromise on user privacy has made it a target, but it’s also earned it support from users who value its commitment to free speech.

Featured image: Mariia Shalabaieva / Unsplash