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Turkey detains 31 lawyers in illegal data panel investigation
Turkish authorities have launched a major operation against the illegal use of personal data through digital 'panel' systems. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that 31 lawyers have been detained following an investigation coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Police Department's Cyber Crimes Branch.
The investigation revealed that illegal systems, identified as 'HukukBİS', 'AsistBİS', and similar programs, were being sold to law firms via subscription models. These systems allowed users to access sensitive citizen information, including identity numbers, addresses, phone numbers, SGK records, and property details.
Some law firms allegedly used this data to target citizens with fraudulent messages, claiming they were under legal pursuit, had missed settlement processes, or were facing imminent seizures. This method was reportedly used to cause victimization and potentially secure financial gain.
In addition to the 31 detentions, police conducted searches and seizures at 39 different law offices. In an earlier phase of the investigation, 10 suspects had already been charged in a public lawsuit regarding the establishment and operation of the illegal system.
Entities
Adalet Bakanlığı · Akın Gürlek · AsistBİS · Barış Sakızlı · Esenyurt · Fethi Dağlı · HukukBİS · Istanbul · Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office · Istanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı · Istanbul Police Department · Istanbul Provincial Police Department
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 15 SOURCES] Ten suspects have already been charged in a public lawsuit regarding the establishment and operation of the illegal system. www.ilkhaber-gazetesi.com · www.dunya.com · www.gercekgundem.com · www.haber3.com · www.gazeteabc.com · +8 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Illegal 'panel' systems were sold to law firms via a subscription model to access citizens' personal data. www.ilkhaber-gazetesi.com · www.dunya.com · www.gercekgundem.com · www.haber3.com · www.gazeteabc.com · +9 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The body of Zeynep Yıldırım, who had been missing since September 2022, was found following the arrest and interrogation of Fethi Dağlı.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Fifteen suspects were detained in a simultaneous operation across four provinces regarding a 2012 murder in Mardin.
- [● 16 SOURCES] Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that 31 lawyers have been detained in connection with an investigation into the illegal use of personal data via 'panel' systems. www.ilkhaber-gazetesi.com · www.dunya.com · www.gercekgundem.com · www.haber3.com · www.gazeteabc.com · +10 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] Police conducted searches and seizures at 39 different law offices. www.ilkhaber-gazetesi.com · www.dunya.com · www.gercekgundem.com · www.haber3.com · www.gazeteabc.com · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Lawyers used the data to send false messages to citizens claiming they were under legal pursuit or facing seizures. www.ilkhaber-gazetesi.com · www.dunya.com · www.gercekgundem.com · www.haber3.com · www.gazeteabc.com · +9 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Unsolved Crimes Research Department has resolved 40 cases involving 46 victims and 7 injured persons since its establishment in April 2026.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The illegal systems included modules for searching citizens' identity, address, phone, SGK records, and property records. www.manisahaberleri.com · www.bursatv.com.tr · www.gazetebirlik.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The illegal digital panel systems used to access personal data were identified as 'HukukBİS', 'AsistBİS', and similar programs. www.beyazgundem.com · www.bursatv.com.tr · www.yenimesaj.com.tr · www.gazetebirlik.com