Turkiye: Introduced Bill on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, Some Laws and the Decree Law No. 659 including data protection regulation

On 16 February 2024, the Bill on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, Some Laws and the Decree Law No. 659, including data protection regulation, was introduced in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The Bill includes measures amending Article 6 of the Personal Data Protection Law (Law 6698). In particular, the Bill would prohibit the processing of special categories of personal data unless the data subject gives explicit consent, it is explicitly provided for by the laws or necessary for protecting life, or it was made public by the data subject and is compatible with the intention of disclosure. Further, data controllers could process special categories of data if it is necessary to establish, exercise, or protect a right or fulfil obligations in areas like employment, health and safety, social security, and assistance. According to the current Law 6698, Article 6, processing special categories of personal data, excluding those related to health and sexual life, is permissible only with explicit consent from the data subject or if mandated by law.