JAKARTA - The Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority is reviewing six free social media platforms. This investigation targets TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Discord, and the X platform.
This investigation was conducted to examine whether the six platforms have taken good care of children's data. According to Turkish authorities, this needs to be done to protect children from risks in the digital environment.
Launching from Turkish Minute, this ex officio review comes at the same time as the preparation of the draft law 'family package'. The rules will tighten state control over online accounts and content.
One of the main points in the proposal is the obligation to verify user identity. Platforms must integrate their systems with government digital services or official phone numbers.
Children under the age of 15 will be completely prohibited from having social media accounts. For users under 18, the government will impose more complicated technical or biometric restrictions.
The Minister of Justice of Turkey, Akın Gürlek, stated that anonymous accounts are often a source of harassment and defamation. He assessed that identity verification will make each user more legally responsible for their uploads.
However, legal experts and human rights defenders have voiced concerns about freedom of expression. They assess that the obligation to verify identity is a restriction that can narrow the space for public discussion.
The Turkish government is also preparing heavy sanctions for platforms that do not comply with the new rules. These sanctions will include the rapid removal of content to a gradual reduction in internet bandwidth.
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