The Information Technologies and Communication Authority hosted the “Public-BIB'23 and BIMY’27 Integrated Event” organized by the Turkish Informatics Association.
The opening of 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, Rahmi Aktepe, President of the Turkish Informatics Association, and numerous guests.
Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, had the bill recently passed in Germany on his agenda. Regarding the approval of the bill in Germany that allows intelligence agencies to read encrypted messages in messaging applications, Sayan said, "Pay attention, this is not about seeking accountability for abuses against citizens, appointing representatives, or removing terrorist content. It is about intelligence services having access to all communications. This is far beyond the law we prepared regarding the appointment of representatives on October 1."
Sayan stated that while the ministry is working on developing domestic services, they have taken the necessary steps to ensure that global internet actors keep the data of their users in Turkey within the country. Drawing attention to the amendments made to the relevant law in this context, Sayan said, "We have set a target and vision by evaluating the contributions that the regulation effective from October 1 will make to Turkey's informatics ecosystem. We did not impose criminal penalties on this matter. We also asked foreign representatives in the sector, 'How can we assist you?' We wanted to establish this vision together."
Deputy Minister Sayan: Our Nation's Data Is No Less Valuable Than Anyone Else's
Touching on the importance of foreign social media companies appointing representatives in Turkey for security reasons, Sayan said, “We want these companies to protect the rights of Turkish citizens in the same way by responding to citizen complaints in Turkey within 48 hours, just as they take protective measures against attacks on the personal rights of citizens in the countries where they appoint representatives. Our sole aim is for our citizens' data to remain within our country's borders and not to be used by anyone without their permission. Our nation's data is no less valuable than anyone else's."
Sayan emphasized the importance of developing services and content produced in Turkey domestically, saying, "If we do not develop our own services and content, our citizens' data is used and processed by others, and great revenues are generated from it. Actually, there are domestic alternatives to the services offered by global internet actors, but we need to diversify them and make them preferred by our citizens."
President Karagözoğlu: We Should Be a Turkey That Markets the Technology It Produces and Is Self-Sufficient
Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, also drew attention to the need for Turkey to keep up with global developments on the path to success. Stating that "Our goal should not be limited to just using and consuming information technologies; we should be a Turkey that develops, produces local and national solutions, markets the technology it produces, and is self-sufficient," Karagözoğlu mentioned the support given by the institution to the National Technology Initiative.
Emphasizing that the dizzying developments in technology today are bringing new concepts into our lives every day, Karagözoğlu said, “One reason these concepts enter our lives so quickly is that they are 'disruptive technologies.' ‘Disruptive technologies’ possess different values from the existing ones and quickly create entirely new market structures. Because this rapid formation defines its own rules instead of existing ones, it comes to life in an even more accelerated manner compared to classical technological developments,” he stated.
Expressing that artificial intelligence technologies, which have gained new capabilities especially with the opportunities brought by big data, will be groundbreaking in many sectors in the coming years, Karagözoğlu said, “Artificial intelligence has recently begun to occupy public authorities in many countries around the world. Technology companies known worldwide are also making major investments in this field. In essence, we are all witnessing the transformation of big data—the goldmine of Industry 4.0—into knowledge that replaces gold, diamonds, rubies, or emeralds through artificial intelligence applications and technologies.”