Levent Kenez/Stockholm
Turkey is preparing new legislation that will require social media users to log in with their national identification numbers, after Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said global platforms have accepted the plan and that a rollout will begin within months.
Gürlek said last week the regulation will be included in a judicial reform package and that users will be given a three-month transition period, at the end of which accounts not linked to verified identities will be closed.
“Social media will now be accessed with real information and personal identity. We have reached an agreement with social media platforms,” Gürlek said. However, he did not specify which companies were involved
According to the government, the measure targets fake and bot accounts and aims to hold users accountable for posts involving insults or reputational harm.
The plan revives a proposal previously discussed in parliament and comes as authorities increase pressure on online platforms through legal and administrative measures. It would mark one of the most extensive identity verification requirements tied directly to a national ID system.
Anonymous accounts have become a common way for users in Turkey to express political opinions without revealing their identities. In recent years, individuals have faced investigation and detention following social media posts or even brief public comments circulated online. The new system would remove that layer of anonymity. Users would be directly identifiable through their national ID numbers, allowing authorities to link posts to individuals without additional investigative steps. However, cybersecurity experts note that even under the current system, users of anonymous accounts can already be traced through their internet access data and IP addresses and argue that the proposed regulation serves no purpose other than creating a climate of fear
The scope of the required data has drawn attention. A Turkish national ID number contains extensive personal information and is not limited to simple verification. Making it mandatory for access to social media introduces a broad and continuous data sharing mechanism between users and platforms. Because major platforms operate outside Turkey, this information would be processed by foreign-based companies, raising questions about cross-border data transfers and the handling of sensitive identity information outside the national jurisdiction.
The regulation also affects only users within Turkey. Accounts managed from abroad would not be subject to the same requirements, meaning users outside the country could continue operating anonymously, creating a distinction between domestic users and those overseas in the same online space.
Authorities have previously enforced restrictions on social media content and accounts. According to official data, tens of thousands of accounts and URLs have been blocked in recent years. Independent monitoring reports indicate that access restrictions have been imposed on thousands of accounts on X, along with tens of thousands of posts across multiple services including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Turkey has also imposed temporary nationwide access restrictions on platforms including X, YouTube and Instagram during periods of political tension. Since the adoption of internet regulations in 2007, more than 1 million websites and domain names have been blocked.
The country is widely regarded as one of the most restrictive environments for social media access among countries with competitive elections, with frequent use of court orders and administrative decisions to limit online content.
The new proposal builds on an existing legal framework that already requires platforms to appoint local representatives and comply with content removal requests. Companies that fail to comply have previously faced bandwidth restrictions that effectively limit access in Turkey.
Global technology companies have signaled willingness to cooperate with Turkish authorities in the past. Representatives of TikTok told a parliamentary committee that the company fully complies with legal requests and has established direct communication channels with Turkish authorities for content removal and account actions.
Google has also acknowledged compliance with Turkish regulations. Company representatives told lawmakers they had taken steps to meet legal requirements, while algorithm changes in 2025 significantly reduced the visibility of independent media outlets critical of the government, according to multiple news organizations.
Those changes led to sharp declines in traffic for outlets relying on Google News and Discover, with some reporting losses of up to 80 percent. The developments triggered criticism in parliament, where lawmakers questioned the impact on media pluralism.
The new identity requirement is expected to intensify existing enforcement practices. By linking accounts directly to verified identities, authorities would be able to act more quickly on posts deemed to violate the law.
The measure also introduces implications for fundamental rights. Requiring national ID numbers for access to communications platforms affects the confidentiality of private communications and limits the ability to express opinions without disclosure of identity.
The requirement constitutes a broad intervention in freedom of expression by removing anonymous participation as an option for all users, regardless of whether they engage in unlawful activity. It also affects the protection of private life by mandating the use of sensitive personal data for routine digital activity.
In practice, the system applies uniformly to all users in Turkey, while enforcement actions have historically focused on government critics. Previous cases show that individuals expressing dissenting views have faced legal consequences, while pro-government accounts have not been subject to the same level of enforcement.
The legislative process is expected to move forward in parliament in the coming period.
The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has for years sought to curb criticism on social media, and existing legislation has already expanded the legal tools available to authorities. The implementation of Article 217 of the Turkish Penal Code marked a significant step in that effort. Introduced to address what officials describe as the public dissemination of misleading information, the provision provides for prison sentences of from one to three years for those accused of spreading false information related to national security, public order or public health with the intent of causing fear or panic. Penalties are increased by half if the offense is carried out through anonymous accounts or as part of organized activity.
The provision has been used in cases involving journalists and individuals reporting on politically sensitive issues, including allegations of corruption. Its wording allows prosecutors to determine what constitutes misleading information, with courts applying the article in a range of investigations linked to online expression.
Turkey’s Constitutional Court upheld Article 217 in late 2023, rejecting appeals that sought its annulment. The ruling kept in force a provision that continues to be used in cases involving both traditional media and social media users, further expanding the legal framework under which online content is monitored and penalized.
A UN General Assembly resolution adopted on December 19, 2023, recognized anonymity as a fundamental part of digital freedoms and human rights:
Attempts to impose real-name or identity-based systems have been tested in other countries with mixed results. South Korea introduced a real-name verification requirement for major websites in the late 2000s, but its constitutional court struck down the measure in 2012, ruling that it violated freedom of expression and failed to reduce harmful content. China, by contrast, has implemented strict real-name registration across digital platforms, though critics say the system operates within a broader framework of state censorship and surveillance. India has also debated traceability requirements for messaging services, prompting legal disputes with technology companies over privacy and encryption.
International human rights organizations have closely monitored similar proposals worldwide. The United Nations has consistently emphasized that anonymity online is closely linked to the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. UN reports have argued that encryption and anonymous communication allow individuals, particularly journalists and human rights defenders, to express opinions safely and avoid unlawful surveillance or retaliation. The organization has warned against mandatory real-name registration policies, saying such measures can restrict fundamental rights and chill public debate.
Human Rights Watch has also highlighted concerns that restrictions on anonymity may disproportionately affect activists and independent media, especially in politically polarized environments. UN Special Rapporteur reports on freedom of expression have described anonymity as a gateway right that enables individuals to exercise other freedoms in the digital age.
