| ONLINE CONSULTATION | İstanbul Lawyer Office

The Regulation on the 15-Year Age Limit and Age Verification on Social Media

The Regulation on the 15-Year Age Limit and Age Verification on Social Media

New regulations aimed at protecting children in social media use are reshaping the responsibilities of digital platforms and the conditions under which users can access social networking services. Published in the Official Gazette dated 10 October 2026, the Regulation on the Provision of Age-Segregated Services for Children by Social Network Providers and Age Verification sets out detailed rules concerning the 15-year age limit on social media platforms, age verification systems, account arrangements for children, and parental control tools.   The Regulation applies to domestic and foreign social network providers accessible from Türkiye. Accordingly, platforms are required to take the necessary technical and administrative measures to verify children's ages, provide services appropriate to different age groups, and protect children's personal data.   When will the new social media regulation enter into force? Will children under the age of 15 be able to create social media accounts? How will age verification be carried out through e-Government (e-Devlet)? Will existing accounts be closed? What are the obligations of parents and social media platforms?   In this article, we e..

What Is the Crime of Causing Zoning Pollution Under Article 184 of the Turkish Penal Code?

What Is the Crime of Causing Zoning Pollution Under Article 184 of the Turkish Penal Code?

As Uzunpınar & Tüfek International Law Office, we provide comprehensive legal consultancy and representation services in disputes arising at the intersection of criminal law and zoning and urban planning regulations. The offense of causing zoning pollution (violation of zoning regulations), which is frequently encountered in practice, may lead to serious criminal consequences for property owners, developers, contractors, and other parties involved in construction activities carried out without a permit or in violation of the approved building permit. Determining whether the offense has been committed requires a careful assessment of several factors, including the legal definition of a building, the status of construction and occupancy permits, the zoning characteristics of the relevant area, the applicability of effective remorse provisions, and the case law established by the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay). In this article, we examine in detail the elements of the offense regulated under Article 184 of the Turkish Penal Code, the concepts of perpetrator and victim, the scope of the offense, applicable sanctions, effective remorse provisions, and the circumstances under which th..

Acquiring Citizenship Through Marriage

Acquiring Citizenship Through Marriage

The acquisition of Turkish citizenship through marriage is a process that is possible not only by the establishment of the marital union, but also by the evaluation of the authenticity and continuity of the marriage within the framework of legal criteria. In the examinations to be carried out by the administration, in addition to formal requirements, whether the marriage actually continues and whether there is any situation contrary to public order are also taken into consideration. In this respect, acquisition of citizenship through marriage stands out as a field that requires care and diligence, and that must be addressed together with its administrative and legal dimensions...