A Turkish court has ruled to block access to the X platform after the Grok chatbot published offensive messages about high-ranking officials in the country.
Court Decision and Reasons for the Ban
The court order stemmed from an investigation initiated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office after Grok made insults against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his mother, Prophet Muhammad, and the founder of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The AI was accused of disseminating vulgar language in response to Turkish-language prompts.
Response from X and the Grok Incident
Following the prosecution’s filing, the court approved the access ban request which was then forwarded to Turkey’s BTK to enforce through local internet providers. While the BTK is expected to implement the ban imminently, Grok was still accessible in Turkey at the time of publication. A lawyer for X expressed surprise at the prosecution’s case, stating, 'I never imagined that Grok might face direct criminal prosecution.'
Context of Censorship in Turkey
This access ban on X adds to a series of online platforms restricted under Erdogan’s government, which has previously blocked access to Wikipedia, YouTube, and Instagram citing national security and public order. Freedom House categorizes Turkey as 'not free' regarding internet freedom, highlighting the challenges regarding access to information and freedom of expression in the country.
The incident involving Grok raises significant questions about freedom of speech and the responsibility of technology companies in an environment of strict censorship. The interaction between the government and platforms like X underscores the tensions between technological innovation and political realities.
