Turkish parliament targets social media giants with proposed content regulations

The Parliamentary Digital Media Commission will now spearhead legislative efforts to regulate and monitor high-profile social media accounts, contemplating sanctions, including license cancellations.

The move comes amid allegations of financial misconduct by influencers and a recent arrest linked to explicit content on TikTok, prompting increased scrutiny on digital platforms. The commission aims to investigate and tax the incomes of social media influencers, particularly on TikTok, considering sanctions such as license cancellations and access blocking for non-compliance. They are also actively studying measures like bandwidth reduction, broadcasting bans, and advertising prohibitions.

TikTok’s Turkey representative is set to address the commission on December 7, offering a response to the allegations, which include the concern that explicit content on platforms such as TikTok presents a moral dilemma for society, particularly impacting children and families.

Why does it matter?

Turkey has been closely monitoring activities on digital platforms, extending its reach even to streaming services. In July, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) in Turkey, responsible for overseeing broadcasts, imposed fines on major digital streaming platforms for content related to LGBT issues and perceived obscenity normalization. Additionally, Turkey consistently ranks among the world’s highest in the number of content removal requests submitted to X, former Twitter.