Facebook, Twitter, other social media companies fined in Turkey
The Turkish government issued Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other major platforms fines of $1.18 million each for failing to comply with a new social media law.
ISTANBUL — The Turkish government imposed financial penalties on major social media platforms Tuesday after the companies did not comply with a controversial new law that opponents say would limit free speech online if followed.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube were each fined 10 million Turkish liras, about $1.18 million, for failing to appoint local representatives in Turkey per legislation passed in July requiring the platforms to comply with content removal requests and store user data within the country, among other measures.
The fines are the first of several penalties outlined by the social media bill, which came into effect Oct. 1. If social media companies continue to neglect measures outlined by the legislation, they could see larger fines next month, as well as a ban on local advertising and progressive throttling that would render the platforms inaccessible in Turkey by mid-spring.
Transport and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Omer Fatih Sayan, whose ministry oversees internet regulations, announced the fines in a series of tweets on Wednesday.
