İstanbul, 28 Haziran 2024 - The 3rd Informatics Council IT Law and Ethics Working Group 2nd Workshop, was held at the General Directorate of Highways Ortaköy Social Facilities. The workshop brought together industry professionals, academics, and representatives of relevant institutions to discuss the legal and ethical challenges Turkey may face in its digitalization process.

What is the 3rd Informatics Council?

Organized with the vision of making the "Century of Turkey the Century of Digital," the 3rd Informatics Council aims to enhance national awareness and capacity by bringing together public institutions, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations (CSOs). Following the 1st and 2nd Informatics Councils held in 2002 and 2004 under the vision of "Towards an Information Society," this council addresses the rapidly evolving digital technologies with a comprehensive approach.

Planned for November 2024, the Council is organized under the leadership of the Turkish Informatics Association and supported by various informatics CSOs. The preparations for the Council are coordinated by the Presidential Digital Transformation Office.

Issues Addressed in the Workshop

The workshop examined the legal and ethical challenges Turkey may encounter in its digitalization process under six main topics:

  1. Protection of personal data, ensuring privacy, and preventing digital manipulation
  2. Ensuring reliable and responsible artificial intelligence: Law and Ethics
  3. Copyrights and intellectual property in the digital world, creative cultural industries
  4. Innovative approaches in regulatory processes
  5. Use and dissemination of digital assets, digital currency, and smart contracts
  6. Cybercrime and cybersecurity

Key Questions of the Workshop

The workshop sought answers to the following key questions:

  • What technical and legal developments are expected in Turkey by 2030?
  • What should Turkey do to keep up with global developments and how should it position itself?
  • What new legal regulations are needed in this regard?

Topics Discussed by Participants

Participants discussed fundamental global and national issues and needs, addressing the following topics:

  • Is there specific legislation related to the relevant issue area? Will these regulations be sufficient considering future developments and potential conflicts of interest?
  • If there are no suitable rules to resolve conflicts of interest in the relevant issue area, is there a need for such regulation? Why? What kind of regulation can both encourage development and provide a mechanism to protect stakeholders?

Workshop Opening and Sessions

The workshop began with opening speeches by Av. Dr. Çiğdem Ayözger Öngün, Chair of the IT Law and Ethics Working Group, and Kenan Altınsaat, President of the Turkish Informatics Association Ankara Branch. In the first session, participants were divided into sub-working groups based on issue areas to conduct detailed studies. In the second session, the sub-working groups presented their key findings and recommendations to all participants.

General Evaluation

The workshop was highly productive with active participation from attendees. The discussions and data obtained will play a significant role in shaping Turkey's digital future. This effort is considered a critical step towards ensuring that Turkey progresses in parallel with global advancements in the fields of information and technology.