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Turkey Blocks AI Chatbot Grok Content for Alleged Insults to Erdogan and Religious Values

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A Turkish court on Wednesday blocked access to certain content generated by Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI, following complaints that the chatbot produced responses insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s founding leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and religious values. This marks the first time Turkey has imposed a ban on content from an AI tool.

The Ankara chief prosecutor’s office launched an investigation, citing violations of Turkish laws that criminalize insults against the president and other protected entities with penalties up to four years in prison. The Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) implemented the court’s order following the investigation.

Media reports indicated Grok generated offensive content when queried in Turkish. The content included politically sensitive and culturally offensive statements. Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu noted that while a total ban on Grok is not yet in place, it could be enforced if deemed necessary, with ongoing talks planned between Turkish authorities and X (formerly Twitter), the platform hosting Grok.

Cyber law expert Yaman Akdeniz stated that authorities identified about 50 problematic Grok-generated posts as the basis for the ban, aiming to “protect public order.” He noted that Turkey is the first country to censor Grok.

The case highlights growing concerns over AI chatbots’ political bias, hate speech, and misinformation, issues that have been under scrutiny since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022. Grok has also faced backlash over antisemitic content and praise for Adolf Hitler, leading to content removals by its developers.

Turkey has increasingly tightened regulations on social media and online platforms in recent years, enacting laws that give authorities expanded powers to control online content. While the government argues these measures protect public order and respect for state institutions, critics accuse them of suppressing dissent.

Neither Elon Musk nor X’s representatives have publicly responded to the Turkish court decision.

Uber to Acquire 85% Stake in Turkey’s Trendyol GO for $700 Million

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Uber announced on Tuesday that it will acquire an 85% controlling stake in Trendyol GO, Turkey’s fast-growing food and grocery delivery platform, in a $700 million deal. The move marks a strategic push into high-growth international markets as Uber faces market saturation in North America.

Trendyol GO, a subsidiary of Turkish e-commerce giant Trendyol Group, currently delivers food and groceries across the country, partnering with over 90,000 restaurants and markets and utilizing a fleet of 19,000 couriers. The platform fulfilled more than 200 million orders in 2024, with gross bookings of approximately $2 billion, representing a 50% year-on-year growth, Uber said.

The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Following the deal, Trendyol GO will retain its independent branding and operations, while Uber plans to gradually integrate elements from its global food delivery platform, Uber Eats.

This expansion comes shortly after Uber dropped its $950 million bid for Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda in Taiwan, citing regulatory issues. Uber’s broader strategy includes expanding its delivery business and exploring self-driving vehicle partnerships to diversify revenue beyond its ride-hailing core.

Meanwhile, competition in the food delivery space is intensifying. DoorDash announced on the same day that it will acquire UK-based Deliveroo for $3.85 billion, aiming to strengthen its European presence and compete more effectively with Uber Eats and Just Eat.

Uber will release its Q1 earnings report on Wednesday, and analysts are watching closely to see how international investments like Trendyol GO might bolster its global growth outlook.

Independent Turkish News Websites Threatened by Google’s Algorithm Changes

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Several independent media outlets in Turkey are facing potential closure due to significant changes made to Google’s algorithms, which have drastically reduced the reader traffic to their websites. According to a joint statement from the affected outlets, since the end of January 2025, Google’s updates have largely eliminated the traffic that was previously directed to them through Google’s “Discover” and “News” tools. This decline in traffic has severely impacted their financial sustainability.

Independent news outlets such as T24, Medyascope, Diken, and Birgun have expressed concern that these changes not only harm their businesses but also limit the public’s access to news. The outlets have announced plans to take legal action in response, aiming to protect their corporate rights, the work of their employees, and the support of their readership, which they claim has been unfairly affected by the changes. They are also seeking legal recourse from both local and international legal bodies, including Turkey’s Competition Authority.

A spokesperson from Google responded, stating that the recent algorithm changes were not targeted at individual websites. Instead, the adjustments were made to improve the overall search experience. “We don’t and would never manipulate search results, modify our products, or enforce our policies to promote or disadvantage any particular viewpoint,” the spokesperson said.

Turkey ranks 158th out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. The group noted that with 90% of Turkey’s media under government influence, the public has increasingly relied on independent news sources for accurate and critical information. However, these outlets are heavily dependent on Google revenues, as private companies are often reluctant to advertise on independent media websites.

Amidst these challenges, Gazete Duvar, another independent news outlet, announced its closure on Wednesday, attributing the decision to revenue losses caused by the changes in Google’s algorithms, compounded by the economic pressures of inflation.