KVKK fines sports platform 250,000 TL over data consent

The Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) has imposed an administrative fine of 250,000 Turkish Lira on an online sports and gambling platform for violating data protection regulations. The decision follows a complaint from a user who was unable to access live match broadcasts because they refused to provide explicit consent for receiving commercial electronic communications.

The KVKK investigation concluded that the platform made the provision of its live broadcasting service conditional upon obtaining consent for commercial messaging. The Board ruled that this practice undermines the fundamental principle of explicit consent, which must be given of ‘free will’.

In addition to the fine, the KVKK has instructed the platform to cease the practice of linking service access to commercial communication consent and to implement necessary technical and administrative measures to prevent the unlawful processing of personal data.