A coalition of human rights organizations, including ARTICLE 19 and Human Rights Watch, has called on social media platforms to protect users’ free expression rights and resist state censorship ahead of Turkey’s municipal elections on 31 March. The organizations emphasize the importance of transparency in disclosing government requests and pressure to restrict content. They criticize recent instances where platforms, such as Twitter/X and Meta, complied with Turkish authorities’ requests to block content deemed a threat to “national security and protection of public order.” The coalition urges platforms to resist arbitrary and excessive requests, conduct human rights due diligence, and engage with civil society for better understanding. Read more here.
Source: Freedom House