Turkish minister warns social media platforms over privacy complaints

Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, announced that social media platforms such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube will face fines if they fail to respond to privacy-related complaints from Turkish citizens within 48 hours.

Uraloglu emphasized that social networks with over 1 million daily users in Türkiye are legally required to address privacy violation claims within the specified timeframe.

Failure to comply will result in administrative fines, he added.

Support against cyberbullying

In a written statement, Uraloglu highlighted Türkiye’s efforts to combat cyberbullying through the ALO 141 Safe Internet Information Support Line and internetyardim.org.tr.

He noted that, since 2017, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has provided solutions to various digital issues through the Internet Assistance Center, including:

• Illegal content and privacy violations
• Data security and online transactions
• Social media risks and cyberbullying
• Digital gaming concerns

“The ALO 141 support line and internetyardim.org.tr assist citizens who experience cyberbullying,” Uraloglu stated.

Regulating harmful online content

Uraloglu stressed the importance of safe and responsible internet usage, noting that Türkiye is actively working to remove illegal content related to:

• Prostitution and explicit material
• Illegal gambling and betting
• Drug use and other criminal activities

“The goal is to tackle illegal content, including crimes such as prostitution, obscenity, illegal gambling, and fraud,” Uraloglu explained.

Significance of ALO 141 hotline

The ALO 141 Internet Assistance Center serves as both a consultation and reporting hub for internet-related issues.

“The Assistance Center provides advice on digital safety, while the Reporting Center evaluates complaints and takes action against online crimes,” Uraloglu said.

He emphasized authorities are particularly focused on child protection, digital fraud, and illegal online activities, including:

• Child exploitation and explicit content
• Encouragement of self-harm or suicide
• Drug and substance abuse promotion
• Crimes targeting Atatürk’s legacy

Growing public engagement in online safety

Uraloglu also shared updated figures on public engagement with Türkiye’s digital safety initiatives:

• 61,161 inquiries have been answered via internetyardim.org.tr since its launch.
• 15,402 inquiries have been handled in the past two years.
• The ALO 141 hotline has received and processed 425,837 calls regarding internet safety.

With these efforts, Türkiye continues to enhance its digital security framework, ensuring that social media platforms adhere to privacy protection regulations while providing accessible support for internet users.