Turkish authorities notified Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, fines amounting to 3.8 million USD.
Those social media platforms failed to appoint local representative, as per requirements of new Social Media Law No. 7253 known as the “Law Amending the Law on the Regulation of Online Broadcasts and the Prevention of Crimes Committed through such Online Broadcasts” has entered into force.
According to the law, such platforms which are consulted more than a million times per day are required to appoint their local representative in Turkey within the time limit set by law.
Since those platforms that still have not appointed representatives, many companies, advertisers and related professionals, agencies in Turkey may face critical issues in the upcoming weeks. If the social media providers persist in their decision to not open representative office in Turkey, within three months of the administrative fine, the next phase will be the slowdown in Internet traffic bandwidth, by 50% in three months.
Being said that, the natural and legal persons providing advertising, namely the clients of advertising agencies and these online platforms, are not covered by the Law, and therefore do not risk anything under the current state of the legislation.
