Overview

• On July 4, the Turkish Competition Board opened a formal investigation into Spotify’s strategies and policies to determine if they breach competition rules in the local music market.
• Batuhan Mumcu has accused the streaming service of hosting playlists that insult Prophet Muhammad and target First Lady Emine Erdoğan, describing the content as “provocative” and morally unacceptable.
• Spotify has stated it is fully cooperating with the probe and reiterated its commitment to comply with Turkish laws and regulations.
• Officials say the inquiry follows multiple warnings issued earlier this year over content deemed offensive to Islamic beliefs and national values.
• Observers note the move is part of a wider government campaign to enforce cultural norms and crack down on dissent through regulatory and legal means, including recent arrests of satirical journalists.