X suspends opposition accounts during Turkey protests

Accounts linked to opposition parties in Turkey have been suspended on the social media platform X. This action comes after protests against the arrest of President Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival. Many demonstrators have utilized social media to organize and voice their concerns. Elon Musk's platform, previously known as Twitter, was advertised as a space for free speech. However, many activists claim that it has become a tool for silencing dissent. Reports indicate that universities' activist accounts, which provided details for protests, have faced the most suspensions. Many of these accounts are small, with followers in the tens of thousands. One activist, Ömer Faruk Aslan, mentioned that his original account was suspended after a post gained significant attention, surpassing six million views. The Turkish government has labeled these accounts as promoting hatred. Authorities recently imposed a temporary ban on protests while simultaneously cracking down on social media activity. Turkey's Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, stated that 326 accounts have been targeted for removal, including 72 possibly operated from abroad. Additionally, 54 individuals have been arrested for their online activity related to these protests. While X has not confirmed any direct cooperation with the Turkish government's requests, its actions suggest a willingness to comply. In 2023, Musk indicated that the platform would comply with governmental demands to avoid broader restrictions. From mid-2024, X has followed 86% of requests to remove content made by Turkey’s government.