Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various sectors globally, and Turkey is no exception. As the adoption of AI technologies accelerates, governments worldwide are addressing the need for comprehensive regulations to ensure ethical and responsible AI development and deployment. Yücel Hamzaoğlu and Melike Hamzaoğlu, from Hamzaoğlu Hamzaoğlu Kınıkoğlu Attorney Partnership, delve into the current state of AI regulation in Turkey, examining guidelines, existing legislation, and the influence of the EU AI Act.

In Turkey, rules regarding commercial communications are governed under Law No. 6563 of 2014 on the Regulation of Electronic Commerce ('the E-Commerce Law') and the Regulation on Commercial Communications and Electronic Commercial Messages 2015 ('the Regulation on Commercial Communication'). In 2020, with the amendments made under the Regulation on Commercial Communication, Turkish legislators introduced the Commercial Electronic Message Management System ('İYS'). Can Sözer, Berfu Öztoprak, Ecem Elver, and Ecenur Etiler, from Esin Attorney Partnership, provides an overview of the İYS, including which data companies need to submit to it and details regarding the registration procedure.

On 11 January 2022, the Personal Data Protection Authority ('KVKK') published its draft guidelines on cookie applications¹ ('the Draft Guidelines') for public consultation, which covers cookies placed on the devices of data subjects and relevant privacy-related obligations. Melis Mert and Kaan İlısu, from BTS & Partners, provide an overview of the Draft Guidelines for data controllers who process personal data via cookies and are subject to the Law.