The General Assembly of the Access Providers Association was held under the auspices of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority. The meeting discussed the development of the sector. The program was attended by Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, and sector representatives.
In
his speech, Deputy Minister Sayan spoke about the effects of digitalization.
Referring to how lifestyles have changed due to the impact of the pandemic, Sayan stated, “One manifestation of this digital transformation is the emergence of individuals turning to alternative communication channels through social networks. In this context, it is evident that the societal impact and power of social networks at the point they have reached today cannot be ignored. The intensive use of social networks on an international scale also brings with it encounters with many problems and violations of personal rights. As you all know, with the recent amendments we made to Law No. 5651, in addition to the decision to block access to content or links subject to violations of personal rights, it is now possible to issue a decision to remove the content. The regulation ensures that the applicant's name is not associated with content and links that violate personal rights”.
Emphasizing that violations occurring on social networks must be removed very quickly, Sayan said, “Access providers play an important role in combating rights violations that arise in the internet environment. Indeed, access providers are obliged to block access if they are notified in accordance with the provisions of this Law regarding any unlawful content published by their users, and to take measures to block alternative access routes for publications subject to access blocking decisions. The Access Providers Association also ensures coordination among access providers and the effective and rapid removal of unlawful content on the internet. It provides a fight against unlawful content as a single entity that courts or administrative authorities can interact with. In this regard, I would like to thank the Access Providers Association and its esteemed members for their efforts in meticulously implementing access blocking decisions under Law No. 5651.”
Stating that the development of the digital world makes it important to build legal structures that will regulate relationships in the digital world, Sayan said, “With our regulation that entered into force on October 1, 2020, we imposed an obligation on domestic or foreign social network providers with more than one million daily accesses from Turkey to provide a positive or negative response within 48 hours at the latest to applications made by individuals on the grounds of 'violation of personal rights' and 'privacy of private life.' Thus, an effective self-regulation mechanism was established for social network providers in combating such content.”
Expressing that they closely follow the activities of social network providers, Sayan said, “While our country's expectation is a direct interlocutor relationship with social network providers, it has been observed that social network providers appointing legal entity representatives, except for VK and Dailymotion which appoint natural person representatives, actually establish artificial interlocutor relationships through virtual legal entities. Therefore, new regulations are needed in Law No. 5651 to establish a real interlocutor relationship. Our studies continue on such issues within the scope of the draft regulation known in the public as the legislation on combating disinformation, for the effective establishment of interlocutor relationships with social network providers, improving the qualifications of representations, and meeting demands made by both natural persons and judicial and administrative authorities more effectively.”
Deputy Minister Sayan also mentioned the studies conducted regarding the safe use of the internet.
President Karagözoğlu: No System Can Provide Benefits Without Protection or Regulations
Information Technologies and Communication Authority President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu also touched upon the effects of digitalization on our country. Karagözoğlu shared current data by saying, “While the global number of mobile subscriptions was only 740 million in 2000, this figure reached 8.65 billion subscribers by the end of last year. In our country, there are more than 86.3 million mobile subscribers, 93% of whom are 4.5G users, and broadband subscribers have reached 88.2 million.”
Drawing attention to the fact that digitalization increases cyber threats, Karagözoğlu said, “In this regard, our National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM), established under the BTK with the support of our Ministry, has been continuing its activities by renewing and developing with technology since 2013. In the context of strengthening national cyber security, under the coordination of USOM, Cyber Incident Response Teams (SOME) operate on a 24/7 basis in critical sectors such as transportation, energy, health, banking, finance, and water management. Cyber Incident Response Teams, or SOMEs, working in every critical institution of our country, perform their duties in close cooperation with USOM.”
Pointing out that the internet has as many risks as opportunities, Sayan said, “While rapidly developing internet technologies make our lives easier on one hand, they also harbor risks for all internet users, especially children and youth, on the other. Our Institution's Safe Internet Center runs many projects in terms of conscious use of the internet. For example, within the scope of the 'Open Source Digital Content Production Project,' it carries out very valuable works hand in hand with the academic world and students to reveal and increase our potential regarding the conscious use of the internet.”
Stating
that no system can provide benefits without protection or regulations, Karagözoğlu said, “For this reason, it is essential to establish and implement the necessary rules to ensure public order. With the recent amendments we made to Law No. 5651, we have implemented various regulations, primarily the protection of personal rights and privacy of private life. We are closely following the issues regarding their implementation and further improvement. The Access Providers Association also provides important support to these efforts. I thank them from here as well. To effectively combat crimes committed through publications made in the internet environment and to ensure that court decisions are implemented without delay, especially when citizens' personal rights are violated, the Access Providers Association undertakes important tasks. With the studies it has conducted since its establishment, the Association has taken important steps in addressing grievances in the internet environment. These efforts continue without slowing down in coordination with our Institution,” he concluded his speech.