by Christina Maas, Reclaim The Net:

Turkey is threatening to block X in the country.

The social media platform X publicized on Wednesday that it is strategically restricting access to certain accounts that critique Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This decision echoes earlier restrictions implemented before the general elections in May, in accordance with controversial censorship laws.

Under current scrutiny are 12 accounts overseen by Kurdish businessman Muhammed Yakut or connected fan accounts disseminating his videos. Yakut, originating from Diyarbakır province in southeastern Turkey, previously utilized YouTube to expose alleged ties between key figures in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and questionable business practices as well as a murky historical coup attempt on July 15, 2016. Yakut’s YouTube channel was incapacitated following a court order just before Turkey’s elections in May.