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Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has been hit with a “substantial amount” in fines by Turkish authorities for failing to comply with orders to suspend accounts linked to ongoing protests following the arrest of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Meta has confirmed the penalty but has not disclosed the exact amount. A company spokesperson reiterated its commitment to freedom of expression, stating, “We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental right and that our platforms should be a place where users around the world can exercise this right.” The spokesperson further expressed concerns that “government requests to restrict speech online alongside threats to shut down online services are severe and have a chilling effect on people’s ability to express themselves.”
Turkey has been experiencing widespread anti-government protests since March 19, following İmamoğlu’s detention. These protests have been met with a crackdown, with reports of mass detentions and censorship. The opposition leader, Özgür Özel, has called for a boycott of businesses allegedly linked to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration.
Meta is not the only social media giant facing pressure. Elon Musk-owned X has also received orders to suspend hundreds of accounts related to the protests. Unlike Meta, X has largely complied with the Turkish government’s demands while simultaneously challenging them in court. According to reports, most of the suspended accounts belonged to university-linked activists sharing protest-related information.
This fine against Meta is part of a broader trend of regulatory actions taken against the company globally. Meta has been facing mounting legal and financial challenges, including major fines in the European Union and other jurisdictions. Recent reports indicate that Meta has been seeking political support from the U.S. government to counter international penalties, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly aligning with former President Donald Trump’s administration to push back against such regulatory actions.
As Turkey intensifies its crackdown on online dissent, the penalties imposed on Meta and other platforms highlight the growing global debate on digital rights, governmental control over online spaces, and the responsibilities of tech giants in protecting freedom of speech. Whether Meta will challenge the Turkish fine remains to be seen, but the ongoing situation underscores the difficult balance between regulatory compliance and safeguarding user rights in authoritarian-leaning environments.
