Turkey has witnessed an unprecedented 10,000% increase in VPN demand following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19.
Authorities responded by restricting access to major social media and messaging platforms, prompting users to seek alternative ways to stay connected online.
In addition to İmamoğlu’s detention, arrest warrants were issued for around 100 individuals, including politicians, journalists, and business figures, as part of an alleged corruption investigation.
To prevent potential protests, the government enforced a four-day ban on public demonstrations in Istanbul. Invoking a 2020 law, authorities also slowed down internet bandwidth for major platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. NetBlocks, a global internet censorship watchdog, confirmed the restrictions, stating that users in Turkey are experiencing the slowest access speeds recorded.
vpnMentor’s Research Team reported a massive spike in VPN demand, with a 10,104% increase observed within hours of the internet restrictions. VPNs allow users to bypass government-imposed censorship and regain access to blocked content, which explains the sudden surge in interest. As frustrations grow, opposition leaders call for public demonstrations despite the ban, raising concerns that the situation could escalate into widespread unrest.
Similar trends have been observed globally, with VPN demand rising whenever governments impose internet restrictions. In the U.S., vpnMentor previously reported a spike in VPN usage after some states introduced age verification laws for websites.
While VPNs provide a means for unrestricted access to online services, vpnMentor emphasizes that it does not encourage illegal activities but recognizes its role in maintaining digital privacy and freedom in regions facing internet censorship.
