Apple has been on something of a world tour securing trademarks for its anticipated “iWatch.” After first seeking trademarks in Russia and Jamaica back in June, and more recently filing for the “iWatch” name in Japan, Apple has applied for the same trademark in Mexico, Taiwan and Turkey.

Mexico’s “Institute of Industrial Property” received the application on June 3 — the same day Apple submitted its Japan application — although the filing only became public recently, according to 9to5Mac. Apple has reportedly filed for the “iWatch” trademark under both hardware and software categories, the website explains, and the document in question is tied to the company’s present Infinite Loop address in Cupertino, Calif., as you can see: Read more…

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Facebook has not handed over user data to Turkish authorities during the country's ongoing anti-government protests, the company said in a Wednesday statement.

Facebook's comments follow a Turkish government minister's claim that Facebook was "in cooperation with the state" while Twitter was refusing to supply user data, per NPR.

Read Facebook's full statement below:

Facebook has not provided user data to Turkish authorities in response to government requests relating to the protests. More generally, we reject all government data requests from Turkish authorities and push them to formal legal channels unless it appears that there is an immediate threat to life or a child, which has been the case in only a small fraction of the requests we have received.

We are concerned about legislative proposals that might purport to require Internet companies to provide user information to Turkish law enforcement authorities more frequently. We will be meeting with representatives of the Turkish government when they visit Silicon Valley this week, and we intend to communicate our strong concerns about these proposals directly at that time.

Reuters also reported that Turkish authorities are asking Twitter to set up an office in the country to facilitate cooperation between the microblogging service and the government. Turkey's Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, has previously called Twitter a "curse" filled with lies.

The social media back-and-forth comes as some Turkish lawmakers call for stricter rules on social media use following weeks of protests.

Facebook and Twitter alike have long been a refuge for Turks seeking a platform to express unpopular viewpoints largely unmolested by censorship. They have grown increasingly important during the recent demonstrations, serving as crucial tools for Turks to share information as local media failed to adequately cover the protests when they began late last month.

Facebook's rejection of the Turkish official's claims also comes as the company is under fire for alleged cooperation with a recently revealed National Security Administration user surveillance program known as PRISM.

Should Facebook and Twitter cooperate with the Turkish government? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Overnight, Turkish choreographer Erdem Gunduz has inspired a new form of anti-government protest: Standing silently while staring at his country's flag for hours on end.

Gunduz began his protest Tuesday alone in Istanbul, going unnoticed for several hours. Once people realized what he was doing, images of his actions (or lack thereof) went viral on Twitter. That inspired hundreds of protestors in Istanbul and other cities across the country to join him in motionless, mute demonstrations, according to the

Gundez and those who joined him in Istanbul stood quietly for hours through the night until Turkish police broke up the demonstration and arrested several protestors. Their efforts to contain the noiseless demonstration, however, may only spark further displays mirroring Gundez's idea.

Turkey has been gripped by widespread protests for the past several weeks. Demonstrations began earlier this month in Istanbul after police moved aggressively to contain a small protest over the planned demolition of a local park. The protests then grew dramatically in number and scope, evolving into a broader expression of dismay over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government.

Protestors in Turkey have used Twitter and other social media as an organizing tool and to spread news of the protests as local media largely turns a blind eye to what's happening on the streets.

Will other protestors in Turkey continue Gundez's silent protest? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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