X Suspends Opposition Accounts in Turkey Amid Protests, Sparking Free Speech Debate

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has suspended several opposition accounts in Turkey during widespread protests, raising concerns over digital censorship and the platform’s commitment to free speech. The suspensions, reported this week, coincide with civil unrest triggered by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The move has drawn criticism from activists and analysts, who question Musk’s “free speech absolutist” stance.

The protests, among the largest in Turkey in over a decade, erupted after İmamoğlu’s arrest ahead of his nomination for the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Demonstrators took to the streets, and activists used X to share protest details, including times and locations. However, accounts belonging to activists, journalists, and university-affiliated figures were suspended, some globally and others only in Turkey. Notably, activist Ömer Faruk Aslan’s account was shut down after a post garnered over 6 million views, forcing him to create a secondary account to continue sharing information.

The Turkish government, which imposed a protest ban and detained over 1,100 people since March, claimed the suspended accounts incited hatred. Authorities identified 326 accounts for takedown and arrested 54 suspects linked to social media activity. X’s compliance with 86% of Turkey’s content removal requests in 2024, as per its transparency report, underscores its history of cooperating with the government, including during the 2023 election.

Critics, including former journalist Can Dündar, accuse Musk of double standards, noting his silence on the issue while championing free speech elsewhere. The suspensions highlight the tension between tech platforms and authoritarian regimes, raising global concerns about digital dissent. As Turkey’s political crisis deepens, X’s role in shaping public discourse remains under scrutiny, with implications for free expression worldwide.