Turkey Announces New Child Protection and Social Media Regulations

Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş presented an 18‑article draft law to the Turkish parliament aimed at strengthening protection for children at risk of crime and improving inter‑agency coordination. The proposal establishes a parliamentary commission on children drawn into crime, a unified digital tracking system, and local commissions in provinces to monitor cases in real time.

The draft consolidates preventive and protective measures under a single framework, introduces mandatory treatment for under‑18s with addiction problems without requiring parental consent, and proposes a coercive penalty of three to ten days detention for parents who refuse to comply with treatment orders. Göktaş emphasized, "Our aim is not to punish the child but to intervene early and coordinate all institutions to protect the child."

A related social‑media regulation is scheduled for October, imposing age‑based restrictions: stricter limits for users under 15 and content filtering for those aged 15‑18. The reforms also include measures to support working parents, such as 24‑hour childcare for health‑sector staff.