Social media platform X said it restricted access in Türkiye to an account it described as the detained Istanbul mayor’s official presidential candidacy office account after receiving a court order.
The company said it is challenging the decision.
The Istanbul 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace issued the order July 29 after accepting a request from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The court invoked Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 to order that content from the account be removed and/or blocked in Türkiye. It cited the protection of national security and public order and the prevention of crime as grounds under the law.
The order said prosecutors based their request on the wording of posts under investigation, the manner of the alleged conduct and the number of times the posts had been viewed.
The court sent the order to the Information and Communications Technologies Authority and required compliance within four hours.
Objections may be filed within two weeks. The Istanbul 9th Criminal Judgeship of Peace would review a challenge, according to the order.
The platform X noted that failure to implement the order could see it face penalties which could include reduced access to the platform in Türkiye.
The company said that it received a similar court order last month requesting it to restrict access to an account associated with the Istanbul mayor. It appealed that decision which is now pending before the Constitutional Court following legal action.
The company said continued access to X helps people in Türkiye express themselves and obtain information. X said it would keep contesting demands that, in its view, violate free-expression principles, due process or other Turkish laws.
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