Information Technology and Communications Authority (BTHK): institution cannot interfere with social media operations

In Northern Cyprus, on April 14, 2026, the Information Technology and Communications Authority (BTHK) initiated an investigation following reports of disruptions in the accounts of some media outlets and journalists, Deputy Chairman of the Board Tayfun Aydınlı told BRT.

Aydınlı noted that the technical operations recorded on the accounts are technically not network attacks, but occur within the internal workings of the platforms themselves. According to him, this excludes the classification of the incidents as external hacking interventions.

As the Deputy Chairman emphasized, as an institution, BTHK does not have the ability to directly interfere with the operation of foreign or international social media platforms. He added that BTHK Chairman Kadri Bürüncük is currently in Turkey for contacts and consultations regarding this matter.

The publication regarding the BTHK initiative was released on April 14, 2026, and contains a statement on the ongoing clarification of the circumstances. Residents and representatives of local media have been informed that the investigation is being conducted within the authority's competence, but interference with the functioning of the platforms themselves is limited.