Turkey goes after Twitter for tax evasion

Twitter is no longer banned in Turkey, but the country’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today pledged to “go after” the social network for evading taxes, Yahoo reports. We were unable to find any proof that tax evasion has or has not occurred, but it’s certainly a serious charge from the Turkish prime minister. According to Yahoo, Erdogan stated that “Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are international companies established for profit and making money … Twitter is at the same time a tax evader. We will go after it …”

Turkey’s prime minister said Saturday he will “go after” Twitter, accusing the site of tax-evasion, after it was used to spread damaging leaks implicating his inner circle in corruption claims. In a televised speech, Recep Tayyip Erdogan also launched a tirade against the nation’s highest court for ruling against a ban on Twitter, charging that it put the rights of businesses above that of Turkey’s. “Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are international companies established for profit and making money,” Erdogan said. “Twitter is at the same time a tax evader. We will go after it,” he added. “These companies, like every international company, will abide by my country’s constitution, laws and tax rules”.