Emine Erdoğan hosts NATO leaders' spouses in Ankara, urges child‑first digital safety

During the 36th NATO State and Government Leaders summit in Ankara, Emine Erdoğan welcomed more than 20 spouses of heads of state and government at the Çankaya Palace. The gathering included a round‑table titled “Children, Technology and Security”, where Erdoğan called for digital platforms to embed child protection as a design principle, demanded transparency of algorithmic “black boxes”, and urged tech firms to submit their social impact to independent audits.

She cited UNICEF data on the rapid rise of children online, warned that unchecked attention‑driven algorithms shape young minds, and highlighted Turkey’s steps such as limiting social‑media access for under‑15s and requiring age verification. Erdoğan also noted that many countries are taking similar actions and referenced Melania Trump’s “Shaping the Future Together” initiative. The diplomatic visit was accompanied by cultural hospitality, featuring Turkish cuisine and an exhibition of Ottoman‑era textiles.

The event underscored Turkey’s role in steering a multilateral dialogue on digital child safety amid broader NATO discussions on security and cooperation.