According to the news report by Anadolu Agency dated 11.12.2024, the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority initiated an ex officio investigation following allegations that Instagram allowed private accounts created by users under the age of 18 to be converted into business accounts, making them publicly accessible and exposing children's personal data to everyone, thereby violating their privacy.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined that email addresses and phone numbers associated with Instagram business accounts were included in Instagram's HTML source code, making this information accessible to anyone. Consequently, it was found that child users were made "vulnerable to risks in the online environment."
In this regard, a fine of 2,500,000 Turkish lira was imposed for failing to implement the necessary technical and administrative measures to ensure data security and for failing to fulfill notification obligations. Additionally, an administrative fine of 9,000,000 Turkish lira was imposed due to the absence of age verification when converting private Instagram accounts of users under 18 into business accounts and the failure to implement any measures to ensure that this transition occurs with parental knowledge and control.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/kvkkden-instagramin-sahibi-metaya-cocuk-hesaplari-cezasi/3421186
* The relevant decisions have not yet been published by the Authority, and information is being shared through the news of Anadolu Agency. We will provide an update on the details once the decisions are announced.
_______________________________
The content in this article is the exclusive property of the attorneys at Nova Law and Consultancy. It may not be used, reproduced, copied, published, distributed, or otherwise disseminated without proper attribution or written consent from the owner.
This content has been prepared solely for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. There is no guarantee that the information provided is current, accurate, or complete. Since each case requires specific evaluation, professional legal advice should be sought before taking any action based on the information contained in this article. For expert support, you can contact us via the information provided on our contact page or through the message box.