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Türkiye’s data protection authority has opened an investigation into six global social media platforms to examine how children’s personal data is handled and safeguarded online.
The Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK), Türkiye’s national regulator responsible for enforcing data privacy laws, said on Friday it initiated an ex officio review covering TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Discord.
The move aims to assess potential digital risks facing minors and ensure compliance with rules protecting children’s personal information, according to the authority.
In its official statement, the authority said the investigation focuses on how children’s personal data is processed and what safety measures platforms have implemented to protect younger users.
The regulator emphasized that the review was carried out under the principle of acting in the "best interests of the child," a standard widely used in international child protection frameworks.
The authority stated that the investigation aims to determine whether social media companies comply with Türkiye’s personal data protection requirements when handling information related to minors.
No timeline or enforcement actions have been announced, and the authority has not yet disclosed specific findings.
KVKK is responsible for enforcing Türkiye’s Personal Data Protection Law, which sets obligations for organizations collecting and processing personal information. The law applies to both domestic and international digital platforms operating in the country.
The regulator’s oversight comes as Türkiye moves toward stricter age-based access rules, including draft legislation that would prohibit children under 15 from using social media platforms and require companies to implement identity verification and safety controls to prevent underage access.
The proposed framework also calls for mandatory age verification systems and filtered content protections for minors, reflecting broader government efforts to limit children’s exposure to digital risks and ensure platforms take greater responsibility for safeguarding young users’ personal data and online safety.
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