Turkey blocks Sky News correspondent's X account

On Monday, October 5, 2026, Sky News correspondent Alex Crawford confirmed that her X (formerly Twitter) account has been blocked in Turkey. This restriction, which follows two prior notifications, reportedly stems from Article 8/A of Turkey’s Law No. 5651, as communicated by the country’s Cybersecurity Presidency.

Crawford is currently the only known foreign journalist affected by this recent surge in online censorship. According to the Freedom of Expression Association (IFÖD), which monitors such activities, at least 1,275 accounts were rendered inaccessible throughout September. The organization characterized this trend as a “tsunami” of censorship targeting Turkish journalists, academics, and various human rights and media organizations.

In response to the action, Sky News has formally stated its intention to challenge the decision in principle. No further explanation for the blocking was provided to Crawford, who continues to highlight the broader context of expanding media suppression in the country. The situation remains developing as media freedom groups monitor the ongoing wave of account restrictions.