Turkiye: Law on Protection of Children and Young People in Digital Environment including age verification requirements was introduced to Grand National Assembly

On 7 January 2026, the Law on Protection of Children and Young People in the Digital Environment was introduced to the Grand National Assembly. The law applies to content providers, intermediary service providers, social network providers, gaming companies, and users. It establishes a preventive and protective framework to address digital risks, including digital addiction, virtual gambling, cyberbullying, harmful or obscene content, misuse of personal data, disinformation, and terrorist propaganda. Social network providers are required to establish and maintain up-to-date age-verification systems. Biometric data may be used solely for verification purposes and must not be processed after the verification is completed. The law limits children under 16 to a maximum of 55 minutes per day on digital platforms and prohibits their use of platforms or digital devices between 10:30 pm and 9:30 am, except for educational content and applications. Access to online games for users under 16 is likewise limited to 55 minutes per day, and gaming companies are required to enforce this limit through systemic measures. The law frames the protection of children under 16 as a preventive public health measure and assigns algorithmic responsibilities to platforms, content providers, and gaming companies, including obligations relating to age verification and parental consent. In addition, institutions authorised under Law No. 5602 on games of chance must block access to games of chance and mutual betting for child users and for all users under 18.