Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok refused the Turkish president's request to open a representative office in the country • In response, Erdogan was furious with the companies: "I will not go beyond the law
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan // Photo: Reuters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today (Wednesday) expressed outrage and frustration at the conduct of foreign social network giants refusing to accept the dictates of the authorities in Ankara.
Among Erdogan's companies are Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter and Instagram, which require Turkish law, at the initiative of the president, to open a representative office in Turkey and manage their presence in the country through it, under the supervision of the authorities.
The companies even paid a fine of 10 million Turkish pounds while refusing to comply with the law.
At a conference of the country's media, hosted by TRT, the president said: "There are many problems with law enforcement on the Internet and social networks. Sometimes, the legislation we have introduced in recent years is not enough. Therefore, we make it clear that no organization is above the law."
Erdogan referred directly to social networking giants, saying: "We have required these companies to set up a representative office in Turkey so that we can examine the material to which adults and children are exposed on the Internet. Children are more vulnerable than adults in this sense. "We will work to protect the rights of the residents of our country."
Erdogan's attempts to gain control of what is happening on social media are part of a series of moves made by the Turkish president in recent years with the aim of increasing his control over the country's media, courts, education and higher education system.
Supporters of the president and the Development and Justice Party claim that these are legitimate moves by a government that enjoys great public support while its opponents claim that Erdogan is working to stifle any criticism against his rule.
