Social media platform X says it is challenging block of jailed Istanbul mayor's account

Social media platform X announced on Wednesday that it is challenging a government request to block the presidential candidacy account of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is currently serving a prison sentence. The move comes amid widespread skepticism, particularly among digital rights advocates, who question whether X will follow through with its stated commitment to free speech. Imamoglu, a prominent opposition leader, had his account blocked in Turkey late last month after the government issued a directive to restrict his online presence. His account, which had nearly 10 million followers, was previously blocked in May 2025 under a similar order, a decision X also contested in court. X posted a message on its platform stating that Turkish laws “force” compliance with the government’s request, though the company emphasized it is challenging the order in court and shared the relevant court documents. According to the post, there is a risk of restricted internet access in Turkey if X does not comply with the order. This follows a pattern of repeated government requests to block accounts linked to political figures and activists, many of whom are critical of the ruling party. In a separate incident, X had already faced pressure to remove content related to Imamoglu, leading to a series of legal challenges. Digital rights organizations and journalists have expressed doubt about the effectiveness of these legal maneuvers. Yaman Akdeniz, founder of the Turkish freedom of expression group IFOD, noted that while X occasionally appeals against government orders, such actions appear selective and lack transparency. He pointed out that X often avoids providing detailed information about the judicial processes involved. “Every now and again they appeal against decisions and lodge a few applications with the Constitutional Court, however, this is very selective,” Akdeniz said. He added that X rarely offers further clarification on the outcomes of these legal challenges. Data from X’s transparency reports reveals a high rate of compliance with removal requests from Turkey. Between July and December 2024, the company received 11,107 removal requests and acted on 86 percent of them. A review by the Washington Post showed that X had taken action in 71 percent of legal requests in the first half of 2024, an increase from 51 percent in 2021. In the same period, X handled 68 percent of the 9,364 requests made by Turkey, indicating a consistent trend of cooperation with government demands. Akdeniz criticized this approach, calling it a reflection of how tech companies have become tools for enforcing state control. Turkey is not alone in pressuring X to remove content or accounts associated with dissent. Reports indicate that X has also blocked accounts of Saudi Arabian critics, including human rights campaigner Yahya Assiri and activist Abdullah Alaoudh, son of imprisoned cleric Salman al-Ouda. These actions followed similar restrictions imposed by Snapchat, Meta, and Instagram, as Saudi authorities accused the individuals of violating local laws. Despite these measures, X maintained that it “strongly believes in defending and respecting the voice of our users.” However, critics argue that this stance is inconsistent with the platform’s track record of complying with government demands. Saudi Arabia has historically invested heavily in XAI, the research division behind X and the controversial Grok chatbot. This financial relationship raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, especially given the ongoing tensions between the two nations. While MEE attempted to contact X for comment, no response was received at the time of publication. As the situation unfolds, the broader implications for digital freedoms and corporate responsibility remain under scrutiny.