X Corp. Geoblocks 60 Saudi Dissident Accounts After Government Orders

The social media platform X Corp. has implemented geoblocking for more than 60 accounts belonging to Saudi Arabian dissidents, making their content invisible to users within the kingdom. This action follows government decrees asserting that the material infringed on public order, religious values, and public morals.

The restrictions, which began in mid-July, target high-profile individuals including human rights activist Yahya Assiri and satirist Ghanem al-Masarir. X Corp. informed the affected users that the content was withheld to comply with local laws. This move aligns the company with other major U.S. technology companies, including Meta, Snapchat, and YouTube, which have previously restricted dissident content within the country after receiving complaints from government entities.

The human rights organization ALQST tracked the blocks and has called for the restoration of the accounts. The organization is also demanding greater transparency from the technology companies regarding their compliance with these state-mandated restrictions.