As Turkey prepares for one of the most consequential elections in their history, Twitter started limiting access in the country in response to legal processes and to ensure that the platform remains available even after the Presidential Elections.
(Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
KNUTSFORD, UNITED KINGDOM APRIL 21: In this photo illustration the Twitter logo is seen on a mobile cellphone on April 21, 2023 in Knutsford, United Kingdom.
Limiting Access
Twitter announced on Saturday that it is now blocking access to some tweets and content in Turkey in preparation for one of the most historic elections in the country. According to a report from Engadget, account holders were already informed by the platform in line with the newest policy. Meanwhile, other countries will not be affected by the access limit.
No information was given by Twitter in regards to which accounts it had or will be restricted. But many accounts now have limited access, including Kurdish businessman Muhammed Yakut who alleged the president and his allies of staging a 2016 coup attempt, and investigating journalist Cevheri Guven who has been vocal about the corruption in the country.
This decision puts Twit Chief Elon Musk's controversial free speech policies into the spotlight, with critics saying that he is ceding to demands from the Turkish president to stay in power. Critics accuse the government of taking control of the media, including cracking down on social media companies to silence opposition voices.
Musk & President Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Musk have been connected since at least 2017, after meeting in Turkey to discuss possible collaboration of Turkish companies between his companies like Tesla and SpaceX. As the years go by, their business ties have strengthened and their friendship becomes solid.
Vanity Fair reported that the president previously stated that he would consider having a talk with Musk regarding the past censorship of his tweets on Twitter. Days after the statement, both were seen in a near-minute-long handshake during the World Cup final in December.
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This is not the first time Twitter has been accused of acquiescing to censorship demands from other leaders in the world. Last January, Twitter acceded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's request to censor a documentary from BBC that criticized the nation's leader. Months after, it expanded to dozens of journalists, politicians, and activists experiencing limited access.
But Musk wrote that he did not know anything about the restricted content. He stated, "It is not possible for me to fix every aspect of Twitter worldwide overnight, while still running Tesla and SpaceX, among other things." Turkey and India's governments are known for controlling the most traditional media outlets, making social media platforms at stake in both countries.
Presidential Elections
The Presidential Elections in Turkey are known as the most closely contested in years. The Washington Post reported that the polls show that opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu running neck-and-neck against the current president, who consolidated power over the country during his two decades leading the country.
Kilicdaragolu promised that he would prioritize strengthening democracy to end authoritarian ruling in the country once elected. He stated, "Turkey is a country of prohibitions. When we are in power, Turkey will be a country of freedom." Erdogan's defeat would have profound consequences for the country.
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