Meta announced it had been hit with a "substantial" fine for refusing to comply with Turkish government demands to restrict content on Facebook and Instagram.
Turkish government tried to suspend social media accounts sharing information on the widespread protests following the arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
"We pushed back on requests from the Turkish government to restrict content that is clearly in the public interest, and have been fined by them as a consequence," Meta spokesperson said, declining to identify the scale of the fine.
"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," Meta added in statement.
In 2024 Meta received 5,677 requests from Turkish authorities to remove content, 4,199 of which came from Türkiye's communications authority, Meta's transparency report said.
Meta heeded 40 percent of the requests, the report said.
The rights groups and journalists’ organisations also call on the Turkish government to cease pressuring online platforms to block content.
"Rather than simply accepting such blocking orders, we urge platforms to take all steps possible to limit their scope and duration, including by challenging their legality in court. Platforms should also be transparent towards affected users and the broader public about government requests for censorship and measures taken in response; and take all possible steps to maintain platform access in the event of shutdowns or throttling,"- their statement reads.
Plarform X issued a statement according to which it objected to ‘multiple court orders [...] to block over 700 accounts’, including those of news organisations, journalists, and political figures. On 26 March, X announced that they filed an individual application before the Constitutional Court challenging an order by Türkiye's Information Technologies Authority to block 126 accounts.
Brussels has fined Apple and Meta over €700 million combined, launching its first crackdown under the Digital Markets Act aimed at curbing big tech’s power and boosting competition in the digital economy.
Apple and Meta have been fined €500 million and €200 million respectively by the European Union for breaching the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act, escalating tensions in the transatlantic tech trade dispute.
A former Meta executive, Sarah Wynn-Williams, testified before U.S. senators on Wednesday, alleging that the company compromised national security to build a lucrative business in China.
Meta is rolling out its “Teen Accounts” feature to Facebook and Messenger, offering enhanced privacy and parental controls to protect young users online. This comes as lawmakers push for stricter social media regulations, responding to growing concerns over children’s safety.
The EU is preparing to rule on Apple and Meta’s alleged breaches of the Digital Markets Act, potentially issuing fines as it seeks to curb Big Tech’s dominance and reinforce fair competition across the digital landscape.
The Russia–Central Asia summit is scheduled to take place in October on the sidelines of the CIS summit in Dushanbe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced.
India on Thursday sealed the Attari-Wagah border crossing—its sole land link with Pakistan—after a militant attack in Kashmir left 26 tourists dead earlier this week.
Tanzanian police on Thursday arrested two senior opposition officials en route to a treason hearing for their party leader, Tundu Lissu, tightening the government’s grip on its critics.
Iran has announced that expert-level technical talks with the United States will take place on April 26. According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, the decision follows a suggestion by Oman and was reached through mutual agreement between the Iranian and U.S. delegations.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 24th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least nine people and injuring 70, including six children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
India on Thursday sealed the Attari-Wagah border crossing—its sole land link with Pakistan—after a militant attack in Kashmir left 26 tourists dead earlier this week.
Tanzanian police on Thursday arrested two senior opposition officials en route to a treason hearing for their party leader, Tundu Lissu, tightening the government’s grip on its critics.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 24th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The Philippines faces the lightest blow from Washington’s new tariff regime—just 17 % on average and with a third of its exports exempt—positioning Manila to lure trade and investment diverted from harder-hit neighbours, a Philippine Institute for Development Studies report says.
Bangladesh clinched two World Bank credits worth $850 million on Wednesday—$650 million to overhaul Chittagong’s Bay Terminal and $200 million to strengthen social protection—aiming to cut shipping costs, spur jobs and aid 4.5 million vulnerable citizens.
The Russia–Central Asia summit is scheduled to take place in October on the sidelines of the CIS summit in Dushanbe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced.
India on Thursday sealed the Attari-Wagah border crossing—its sole land link with Pakistan—after a militant attack in Kashmir left 26 tourists dead earlier this week.
Tanzanian police on Thursday arrested two senior opposition officials en route to a treason hearing for their party leader, Tundu Lissu, tightening the government’s grip on its critics.
Iran has announced that expert-level technical talks with the United States will take place on April 26. According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, the decision follows a suggestion by Oman and was reached through mutual agreement between the Iranian and U.S. delegations.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 24th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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