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Türkiye’s New Age Verification Regime for Social Media Is Now in Force
Türkiye has introduced a new regulatory framework for social media platforms, bringing significant changes to how children can access and use social media services. The “Regulation on the Provision of Separate Services Tailored to Children and Age Verification by Social Media Providers” (the “Regulation”), published in the Official Gazette dated 10 October 2026, entered into force on 1 November 2026. The Regulation applies to both domestic and foreign social media providers accessible from Türkiye ("Providers") and introduces mandatory age verification, a ban on providing services to children under 15, and stricter safeguards for users aged 15 to 17. What Are the Key Changes? 1. Mandatory
Quick Read: Technology Law Updates in Türkiye – September 2026
Important developments in artificial intelligence and data protection took place in Türkiye in September 2026. The government’s Medium-Term Programme for 2027–2029 outlined plans to align Turkish data protection legislation with the GDPR and establish a national AI legislative framework. Meanwhile, the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (the “DPA”) published guidance on personal data protection obligations in legal practice, including the use of generative AI. A series of data breach notifications also highlighted the cybersecurity risks associated with third-party service providers and the potential impact of a single security incident on multiple organisations. In this edition of Quick Read
Quick Read – Technology Law Updates in Türkiye
Several notable developments took place across Türkiye’s data protection and artificial intelligence landscape in August 2026. The Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (“DPA”) published 47 decision summaries, providing further insight into its current enforcement priorities. The DPA also extended the compliance deadline for certain loyalty program requirements and clarified the scope of restrictions on using biometric data at the workplace. In addition, the Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Action Plan (2026–2030) was published by Presidential Circular, setting out Türkiye’s strategic priorities for AI over the coming years. In this edition of Quick Read, we highlight the most notable
Yabancı dijital konaklama platformlarına izin ve denetim rejimi getiren kanun teklifi TBMM'de
Eylül 2026 – 10 Ağustos 2026 tarihinde Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi Başkanlığına sunulan Yabancı Dijital Konaklama Platformları Kanunu Teklifi (“Teklif”) ile yurt dışında yerleşik dijital konaklama platformlarının Türkiye'deki faaliyetlerinin izin ve denetim rejimine tabi tutulması amaçlanmaktadır. Teklif’e ilişkin başlıca noktalar aşağıda özetlenmiştir: Teklif, yurt dışında yerleşik olup elektronik ticaret ortamı üzerinden yurt içinde faaliyet gösteren hizmet sağlayıcılar ile aracı hizmet sağlayıcıları, kendi nam ve hesabına satış yapıp yapmadıklarına bakılmaksızın kapsamına almaktadır. Bu çerçevede, yetkili idare Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı (“Bakanlık”)
Bill introducing an authorisation and supervision framework for foreign digital accommodation platforms submitted to parliament
The Bill on Foreign Digital Accommodation Platforms (the “Bill”), submitted to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye on 10 August 2026, aims to subject the activities of digital accommodation platforms established abroad to an authorisation and supervision framework in Türkiye. The main points of the Bill are summarised below: The Bill captures service providers and intermediary service providers established abroad that operate domestically through an electronic commerce environment, irrespective of whether they sell on their own account. In this context, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (the “Ministry”) is designated as the competent authority. Platforms may operate
KST Law (in cooperation with Kinstellar) assists on the Turkish law aspects of Unifonic’s acquisition of Segmentify
KST Law (in cooperation with Kinstellar) is pleased to have worked with lead counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, on the Turkish law aspects of Unifonic’s acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Segmentify UK Holding Company Limited, and its subsidiary Segmentify Yazılım, an AI-driven personalisation and customer engagement SaaS platform. With its acquisition of Segmentify, Unifonic further expands its AI capabilities and strengthens its customer engagement offering. The transaction supports the company’s strategy of combining communication, customer intelligence and personalisation technologies to deliver more integrated and data-driven digital experiences. As part of Unifonic, Segmentify
Quick Read: Technology Law Updates in Türkiye – May 2026
May saw several significant developments in Türkiye across the areas of data protection, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital regulation. Notable updates included the Turkish DPA's approval of Binding Corporate Rules for international data transfers, new guidance concerning reality television programs, constitutional developments affecting digital searches, and further public and private sector initiatives on AI governance. In this edition of Quick Read, we highlight the most notable recent developments in data protection, cybersecurity, and digital regulation in Türkiye. Developments in Data Protection 1. DPA approves binding corporate rules for cross-border data transfers The DPA approved
Specialised Courts Appointed in Türkiye for Disputes Arising from the Regulatory and Supervisory Authorities
On 20 April 2026, Türkiye’s First Chamber of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (Hakimler ve Savcılar Kurulu) issued Decision No. 890 (the “Decision”) designating specialised courts for disputes arising from decisions of certain regulatory and supervisory authorities, such as the Personal Data Protection Authority and the Competition Authority, as listed in Chart (III) of Law No. 5018 on Public Financial Management and Control ("Chart No. III"). The Decision, published in the Official Gazette on 22 April 2026, emphasises the aim of resolving disputes in a more efficient and timely manner, particularly those of a technical and complex nature that require specialised knowledge. Designated Court: Ankara Administrative
Elektrikli Skuterlerin Üretimindeki Yerlilik Esasları Hakkında Tebliğ
15 Nisan 2026 tarihli Resmî Gazete’de yayımlanan “Elektrikli Skuterlerin Üretimindeki Yerlilik Esasları Hakkında Tebliğ (SGM-2026/5)” ile elektrikli skuter (E-skuter) üretiminde uygulanacak yerlilik kriterleri ile bunların TSE tarafından belgelendirilmesine ilişkin usul ve esaslar düzenlenmiştir. Elektrikli Skuterlerin Üretimindeki Yerlilik Esasları Hakkında Tebliğ (SGM-2026/5) (Tebliğ) ile Elektrikli Skuter Yönetmeliği kapsamındaki yetki belgesi sahipleri açısından, 1 Temmuz 2026 itibarıyla U-Net sistemine kaydedilecek E-skuterler için yerlilik şartı getirmektedir. Bu çerçevede, üreticilerin belirli aksamların yerli olduğunu yerli malı belgesi ile tevsik ederek Türk Standartları
Quick Read: Technology Law Updates in Türkiye – March 2026
March 2026 was a particularly active month for technology law in Türkiye, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence developments. The Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (the “DPA”) issued two guidance documents on AI, while the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye published its long-awaited AI Research Commission Report. In parallel, the DPA released several principle decisions addressing key data protection issues, reinforcing its regulatory expectations. AI in Focus: Key Developments in Türkiye 1. AI Takes Centre Stage: Parliamentary Report Published The Turkish Parliament’s AI Research Commission Report (the “Report”) sets out key policy recommendations for the development of the
Quick Read: Technology Law Updates in Türkiye – February 2026
February 2026 was a particularly active month for technology law developments in Türkiye, with the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (the “DPA”) issuing a principle decision affecting retail practices, publishing new cybersecurity warnings, and initiating AI-related investigations, alongside broader regulatory developments signalling heightened scrutiny on the protection of children’s personal data, as well as the launch of a public consultation on Türkiye’s Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. Retail Practices in Focus: DPA Tightens Rules on Loyalty Card Use On 28 February 2026, the DPA issued a Principle Decision addressing the use of loyalty card details during shopping transactions. The
The Evolution of “Onsite” in the Digital Age: The Turkish Competition Authority’s Spotify Decision and the Rise of Functional Jurisdiction during Dawn Raids
In a decision that establishes a stern precedent for global digital platforms, the Turkish Competition Board (the “Board”) has issued its ruling against Spotify for obstructing a dawn raid.[1] While the financial penalties are noteworthy, the decision’s true significance lies in the Board’s explicit confirmation that an absence of material presence (premises, local employees, or physical servers) in Türkiye does not limit its investigative powers. This ruling formalises the Turkish Competition Authority’s (“TCA”) mandate to conduct remote, extraterritorial inspections of digital footprints, provided those activities exert an “effect” on the Turkish market. Anatomy of the Obstruction The Board’s