"Turkey to Require Social Media Users to Verify Their Identities" 3 April 2026

Turkey is preparing to introduce a system in three months’ time requiring users to provide verified identity information in order to access social media platforms, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced on Friday...Gurlek said that Turkish authorities have reached an agreement with major global social media companies to implement identity-based login systems, effectively ending anonymous usage in the country. He did not name the specific companies...

Users will verify their identity using their identity documents and citizenship numbers...Gurlek has previously complained that anonymous accounts enable online abuse and attempts to influence judicial processes, and argued that users should be legally responsible for their online activity...Critics argue however that requiring users to disclose their identities may discourage individuals from expressing dissenting views, particularly in a political climate where online speech has already led to investigations and prosecutions...

However, previous pieces of legislation, such as the disinformation law and social media law, have been criticised by rights groups, experts and the opposition, who claim that the government is trying to censor the internet...None of the social media giants had confirmed the Turkish minister’s announcement by the time of publication of this article...

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