Turkey’s Grand National Assembly has passed a bill requiring social media platforms to introduce age-verification systems and control mechanisms. The legislation aims to restrict access to these digital platforms for children under 15.
The government maintains that the measure is designed to protect minors. However, critics express concern that the law could threaten privacy and free speech online. The main opposition party, CHP, has criticized the bill, calling it a tool for political censorship rather than a means of child protection.
President Erdŏgan now has 15 days to sign the bill into law. Once signed and published in the Official Gazette, the legislation will enter into force after six months. Turkey has previously restricted platforms during the İmamoglu protests and blocked services such as Roblox and Instagram.