As Turkey gears up for crucial municipal elections on 31 March 2024, a collective of human rights and journalists’ groups, including Human Rights Watch and ARTICLE 19, have issued on Monday a call to social media platforms urging them to stand firm against increasing demands by Turkish authorities to censor online content critical of the government.
The groups’ statement highlighted the growing governmental pressure on these platforms to block such content, particularly in light of a January 2024 court order that led to restricted access to critical content. This move has sparked concern over the willingness of these companies to bend to government pressure rather than uphold international human rights standards.
The joint statement outlined the necessity for social media platforms to adopt a unified stance against both formal and informal censorship pressures. They were encouraged to ensure heightened transparency regarding government demands for content restrictions, safeguarding expression protected under international human rights law.
This call to action is set against a backdrop of escalating efforts by Turkish authorities to leverage the internet law to control social media narratives, especially concerning content that critiques the government.
The statement concluded with a call to the Turkish government to adhere to international freedom of expression standards and ensure a transparent, free and fair electoral process. This includes refraining from exerting undue pressure on social media platforms to censor content, particularly that which involves political discourse, thereby safeguarding the right to freedom of expression and the integrity of the upcoming elections.
