Türkiye reviews children’s data practices and considers social media age verification

Türkiye’s Personal Data Protection Authority has announced that its Personal Data Protection Board will examine how major social media platforms process children’s personal data. Platforms under review include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Discord.

According to local reporting, the review will assess how children’s data is handled, what safeguards are in place, and whether practices align with the “best interests of the child” principle. The government is also preparing draft measures that would introduce age verification requirements and restrict children’s access to social media.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is preparing a legislative proposal, described as a “family package,” that would require social media platforms to verify users’ identities. Verification could take place through integration with the national e-government system, e-Devlet Kapısı, or via phone number authentication. The draft would prohibit children under 15 from opening social media accounts and could introduce additional restrictions on the processing of biometric data for users under 18.

Failure to comply with age verification requirements or content removal orders could result in penalties, including gradual reductions in internet bandwidth, a measure previously used by Turkish regulators in enforcement actions against platforms.

The proposals come amid broader international discussions on age assurance and child protection online. Critics have raised concerns about potential impacts on online freedoms if mandatory identity verification is introduced. Türkiye’s e-Devlet system, launched in 2008, currently has more than 68 million registered users and provides access to a wide range of public services.