Turkish internet service providers have blocked access to Periscope, the live streaming service owned by Twitter, Inc. The measure is believed to be temporary, in compliance with a court order issued to prevent unlicensed broadcasts of the sporting events.
Update: #Periscope has been blocked in #Turkey minutes after kick off at the season's opening match between Ankaragücü and Galatasaray, compliant with a court order to protect broadcasters' rights during the gameshttps://t.co/hAraQMkccq pic.twitter.com/bgddiVPTT6
— Turkey Blocks (@TurkeyBlocks) August 10, 2018
Data from Turkey Blocks network measurements indicate that the measure was implemented minutes after the match commenced, at 10:00PM local time. The blocks are implemented on several mobile and fixed-line ISPs including TTNet, Turkcell, Turk Telekom (Avea) and Uydunet.
The first Süper Lig match of the season will is being played today at 6:45 UTC between Ankaragücü and Galatasaray, and is one of the most anticipated sporting events on Turkey’s calendar.
Just-in-time blocking is mechanism typically used to quell protests and at times of political unrest – its use as a means to protect broadcast rights is unprecedented in Turkey. It remains unclear why standard industry procedures to prevent illegal streaming were not effective in this case.
Breaking incident more details and technical analysis to be posted here shortly.