Turkey and Northern Cyprus sign child digital‑safety protocols

Turkey’s Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş attended the “Ekranın Ötesi: Dijital Zorbalık, Bağımlılık ve Koruma” symposium in Lefkoşa, Northern Cyprus. The event, co‑organized by Turkey’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services, concluded with the signing of an intent‑letter between the two governments and a cooperation protocol with the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTHK). The agreements aim to deliver “Safe Internet Service” packages for families and children through internet service providers and to launch the “EGÜVENDESİN” web portal, which will provide guidance on digital bullying, addiction and online protection.

Göktaş said, “Children and families will have a safer digital future only through sharing knowledge and joint policies.” The symposium highlighted the need for international cooperation to combat digital risks that affect children’s mental health and privacy, and stressed that digital safety is both a technical and humanitarian issue.

The initiatives target Turkish and Northern Cypriot users, seeking to reduce exposure to harmful content, cyber‑bullying, and algorithm‑driven addiction while promoting digital‑literacy among parents and schools.