New regulation requires social media giants to set up local companies in Türkiye

Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA or BTK) has unveiled a new draft regulation targeting social media platforms. The draft, which outlines several new rules, mandates that social media giants like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and YouTube must establish local companies within Türkiye.

Additionally, it introduces the possibility of restricting access to these platforms for reasons related to national security and public order.

Public consultation open until April 28

The draft, titled “Electronic Communication Sector Authorization Regulation,” has been published on ICTA’s website for public feedback. Stakeholders and the public have until April 28, to submit their opinions and suggestions.

Potential access restrictions for public interest

A key component of the regulation is the introduction of a new clause to the current 25th article, which allows ICTA-BTK to block access to social media platforms in certain circumstances. The regulation specifies that access can be restricted for reasons related to national security, public order, public health, or other public interest concerns.

The draft includes the provision: “In cases deemed necessary for the public interest, such as national security, public order, public health, and similar public concerns, ICTA-BTK may directly block access to the relevant website or application.”

Local company requirements for social media giants

The draft also introduces a significant change by requiring social media platforms to establish a local company in Türkiye to operate within the country. Under the new rules, platforms must appoint a fully authorized representative and obtain proper authorization from ICTA.

The regulation mandates that the company established in Türkiye must be wholly owned by the relevant foreign entity.

New regulations and reporting obligations for social media platforms

In addition to the requirement for local company formation, the draft regulation also imposes additional requirements on social media platforms. These include compliance with regulations on consumer rights protection, ensuring fair competition, data security, personal data protection, public order, and national security.

Platforms will also be required to report sector-specific data and security incidents to ICTA on a regular basis.

Deadline for compliance set for 2026

Social media companies have been given until Jan. 1, 2026, to comply with the new regulations. Failure to meet these requirements by the deadline will result in administrative fines ranging from ₺1 million ($26,309) to ₺30 million. Companies that do not comply within six months after the deadline may face a reduction of their internet traffic bandwidth by up to 95%.

The regulation has sparked widespread interest in how major platforms like Facebook, X, WhatsApp, and YouTube will respond. It remains unclear how international social media companies will adapt to these new requirements, and how the regulation will be enforced in practice.