World · Middle East · 4 hrs ago
Rights groups urge Turkey to end mass online account blocking
Human Rights Watch and 20 other rights and media groups urged Turkey to stop what they described as escalating internet censorship.
They said Turkish authorities ordered at least 1,270 X accounts blocked in September, and X acted on at least 90 percent of those orders in Turkey.
The affected accounts included independent news outlets, journalists, academics and rights groups.
A court also ordered access to the news outlet T24’s website and X account blocked, citing 118 articles; its website has been inaccessible in Turkey since September 30.
The groups said many orders did not identify the specific content at issue or explain why blocking entire accounts was necessary.
They also said users often received no copy of the court decision, making it harder to challenge restrictions.
The groups called on social media companies to contest disproportionate orders, share court decisions with affected users and restore access when blocks lack sufficient justification.
Human Rights Watch and 20 other rights and media freedom organizations urged Turkish authorities to end what they called escalating internet censorship.
At least 1,270 X accounts with a combined following of 35 million were targeted by access-blocking orders in Turkey in September.
X complied with at least 90 percent of the orders, making the accounts inaccessible to users in Turkey.
The restrictions affected independent media, journalists, civil society groups and human rights defenders.
The organizations also urged social media companies to challenge disproportionate restrictions, give affected users court decisions and restore unjustifiably blocked accounts.
- Who
- Human Rights Watch and 20 other human rights and media freedom organizations called for action.
- What
- They urged Turkish authorities to end online censorship and called on social media companies to challenge restrictions and restore some blocked accounts.
- When
- The organizations issued their call on Monday, October 12, 2026. The account-blocking orders targeted at least 1,270 X accounts in September.
- Where
- Turkey.
- Why
- The organizations said the blocking orders targeted independent media, journalists and civil society groups, and often failed to explain why entire accounts needed to be restricted.
Rights and media freedom organizations
Turkish authorities
Basis for restrictions
Rights and media freedom organizations
The organizations said many orders did not identify the specific unlawful content or explain why restricting entire accounts was necessary.
Turkish authorities
The court said T24 articles could weaken Turkey’s family structure and adversely affect minors’ development concerning sexual orientation and gender identity.
Scope of blocking
Rights and media freedom organizations
The organizations said blocking entire accounts and outlets was disproportionate and called for access to be restored where restrictions lacked sufficient justification.
Turkish authorities
Turkish authorities ordered access blocked to at least 1,270 X accounts in September; the court ordered access blocked to T24’s website and X account.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Turkish authorities ordered access blocked to at least 1,270 X accounts, according to figures compiled by İFÖD.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced specialized prosecution units to monitor suspected criminal activity online, including the dissemination of disinformation.
A Turkish court ordered access blocked to T24’s website and X account, citing 118 articles published by the outlet.
T24’s website became inaccessible in Turkey.
Human Rights Watch and 20 other organizations called on Turkish authorities to end internet censorship.
- Accounts targeted
- At least 1,270 X accounts
- Combined following
- 35 million
- X compliance
- At least 90 percent of orders
- T24 court order
- September 29; cited 118 articles
- Organizations making call
- Human Rights Watch and 20 other groups
Sources
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